Photos
Silé Harrower
- Self - Daughter
- (as Silé Milligan)
Spike Milligan
- Self
- (archive footage)
Andy Secombe
- Self - Sir Harry Secombe's Son
- (as Andrew Secombe)
Harry Secombe
- Self
- (archive footage)
Peter Sellers
- Self
- (archive footage)
Storyline
Featured review
A sensitive portrait of a brilliant but complex man
Many of us remember Spike Milligan as an eccentric, grandfather-like, universally loved old man; as the comic hero of our fathers' generation, the manic author of the Goon Show; and the precursor of more modern comedy such as Monty Python. We may also be aware that the dark side of his humour (his gravestone famously reads 'I told you I was ill!') had some basis in reality. This outstanding film manages, surprisingly for a man who spent much of his life on national television, to assemble a combination of private and public material that gives a thoughtful and revealing portrait of a sensitive but wild individual, a manic depressive, alternately a brilliant and an awful father, in a way that makes him appear very much a human being not just a performer. It's interesting both for what it tells us about Spike, but also for how we might choose to see a public figure from a certain perspective and ignore much which is hidden in plain sight. Overall, I found this an unexpectedly moving and revealing program; and although it's about more than just Spike's comedy, there are moments in the clips that will remind you of his talent and force you to laugh.
helpful•00
- paul2001sw-1
- Apr 9, 2016
Details
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
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