The Bed-Sitting Room is a 1969 British comedy film directed by Richard Lester and based on the play of the same name. It was entered into the 19th Berlin International Film Festival
The film is set on the third or fourth anniversary of a war which lasted two minutes and twenty-eight seconds, including signing the peace treaty. Three years after the nuclear holocaust, several survivors wander amidst the debris of London. Penelope is 17 months pregnant and lives with her lover, Alan, and her parents on a tube train in what remains of the London Underground.
Other survivors include Capt. Bules Martin, who holds a “Defeat of England” medal, as he was unable to save Buckingham Palace from disintegration during the war. Lord Fortnum (Richardson) is fearful that he will mutate into the “bed sitting room” of the title. Mate is a fireguard, except that there is nothing left to burn. Shelter Man serves as a regional “head of government” over a decimated population. Similarly, the “National Health Service” is the name of a male nurse, although overwhelmed by the extent of the past war. Finally, there are two policemen, who hover overhead in a badly damaged Panda car that has been made into a makeshift ballon, and shout “keep moving” to offset the ‘danger’ of becoming a ‘target’ in the unlikely event of another outbreak of hostilities.
Lord Fortnum travels to 29 Cul de Sac Place and does become a bed sitting room. Penelope’s mother is provided with a death certificate, after which she turns into a cupboard. Penelope is forced to marry Martin because of his “bright future”, despite her love for Alan. Her father is initially selected to become Prime Minister due to his prodigious leg length, but unfortunately, he mutates into a parrot and is cooked and eaten due to the starvation conditions that prevail.
Penelope finally gives birth, but her monstrous mutant progeny dies. It emerges that Martin is impotent, so he yields marriage consummation to Alan. Penelope has a second child, who is normal, and there is an indication of hope for the future amidst the devastation. She, Alan and her child walk off together. A band pays homage to Mrs. Ethel Shroake of 393A High Street, Leytonstone, the late Queen’s former charwoman, and thus closest in succession to the throne.
Directed by Richard Lester
Written by Spike Milligan, John Antrobus
Cinematography David Watkin
Starring Rita Tushingham, Dudley Moore
Release date(s) June 1969 (Berlin), 25th March 1970 (UK)
Running time 90 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English
Starring:
Rita Tushingham as Penelope
Dudley Moore as Police Sergeant
Harry Secombe as Shelter Man
Arthur Lowe as Father
Roy Kinnear as Plastic Mac Man
Spike Milligan as Mate
Ronald Fraser as The Army
Jimmy Edwards as Nigel
Michael Hordern as Bules Martin
Peter Cook as Police Inspector
Ralph Richardson as Lord Fortnum of Alamein
Mona Washbourne as Mother
Richard Warwick as Alan
Frank Thornton as The BBC
Dandy Nichols as Mrs Ethel Shroake
Jack Shepherd as Underwater Vicar
Marty Feldman as Nurse Arthur
