ComedyCrime

Porridge

- Fletcher's inside story - even funnier as a film

Times are hard for habitual guest of Her Majesty Norman Stanley Fletcher. The new prison officer, Beale, makes MacKay look soft and what's more, an escape plan is hatching from the cell of prison godfather Grouty and Fletcher wants no part of it.

Release Date : 1979-08-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Witzend ProductionsBlack Lion Films

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles : Doing Time

Cast

Character Name : Norman Stanley Fletcher

Original Name : Ronnie Barker

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lennie Godber

Original Name : Richard Beckinsale

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mackay

Original Name : Fulton Mackay

Gender : Male

Character Name : Barrowclough

Original Name : Brian Wilde

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grouty

Original Name : Peter Vaughan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bainbridge

Original Name : Julian Holloway

Gender : Male

Character Name : Treadaway - Governor

Original Name : Geoffrey Bayldon

Gender : Male

Character Name : Beal

Original Name : Christopher Godwin

Gender : Male

Character Name : Oakes

Original Name : Barrie Rutter

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rudge

Original Name : Daniel Peacock

Gender : Male

Character Name : Warren

Original Name : Sam Kelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ives

Original Name : Ken Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dines

Original Name : Gorden Kaye

Gender : Male

Character Name : Banyard

Original Name : Philip Locke

Gender : Male

Character Name : McMillan

Original Name : Oliver Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Urquhart

Original Name : Karl Howman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Armstrong

Original Name : Andrew Dunford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wellings

Original Name : Steve Steen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Simpkins

Original Name : Ivan Steward

Gender : Male

Character Name : Small

Original Name : Derek James

Gender : Male

Character Name : McLaren

Original Name : Tony Osoba

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lotterby

Original Name : Zoot Money

Gender : Male

Character Name : Callaghan

Original Name : Rod Culbertson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cooper

Original Name : Derek Deadman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Atkinson

Original Name : Robert Putt

Gender : Male

Character Name : Whalley

Original Name : Allan Warren

Gender : Male

Character Name : Whittaker

Original Name : Stewart Harwood

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hedley

Original Name : John Barrett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Morgan

Original Name : Paul Barber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Hayward

Original Name : Sebastian Abineri

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sampson

Original Name : John Dair

Gender : Male

Character Name : Delilah

Original Name : Barry James

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jacko

Original Name : Jackie Pallo Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tinkler

Original Name : Robert Lee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cox

Original Name : Robert Hamilton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miller

Original Name : Charles Pemberton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lassiter

Original Name : Colin Rix

Gender : Male

Character Name : MO

Original Name : Michael O'Hagan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Collinson

Original Name : Paul McDowell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Chalky

Original Name : Paul Luty

Gender : Male

Character Name : Weatherman

Original Name : Duncan Preston

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sheila

Original Name : Elizabeth Knight

Gender : Female

Character Name : PC Townsend

Original Name : Nicholas McArdle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Old Lady

Original Name : Jean Campbell-Dallas

Gender : Female

Character Name : Old Man

Original Name : Bill Kerry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alf

Original Name : Bunny May

Gender : Male

Character Name : Prisoner (uncredited)

Original Name : Barrie Holland

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Genius TV show translates well for fun packed movie. Porridge is a spin off film from the successful TV series of the same name that aired on British BBC1 between 1974 and 1977. It's directed by Dick Clement who also co-writes with Ian La Frenais. It stars Ronnie Barker, Richard Beckinsale, Fulton Mackay, Brian Wilde and Peter Vaughn. Lets face it, and lets be honest here, for many Brits who grew up with the TV show, Porridge is simply one of the greatest shows Britain has ever produced. Sharp and on the money in writing and characterisations, and boasting a cast that were always irresistible, it still manages to enthral millions today during continuous reruns on cable and satellite TV. In light of the regard and popularity the show had, it was perhaps inevitable that a film production was just a matter of time, because, well, all the great British comedies of the past had feature films made. But of course not all were particularly any good. So it's with much relief to find that the film version of Porridge is a very decent offering. The plot sees Fletcher (Barker) involved as the manager of the prison football team, to which, unbeknown to the wily old lag, is being used as a front for an escape attempt by Oakes (Barrie Rutter), and naturally the smarmy menace of Grouty (Vaughn) is pulling the strings. Fletcher & Godber (Beckinsale) then accidentally get caught up in the escape and thus have to break back into the prison before anyone catches them! This set-up is wonderful and makes for some very funny comedy, executed with aplomb by Barker, Mackay and co. True that taking the characters out of the confines of the prison strips away much of what made the TV series so special, but the characters are so strong, the actors chemistry so evident, film stands tall enough to not sully the reputation of the show. It's a delightful way to spend an hour and half with your feet up, as a stand alone film it entertains those not familiar with the TV show. While for us fans? It sits nicely alongside the show as an extended viewing of comic genius behind and in front of the camera. 8/10 R.I.P. fellas, your legacy lives on always.

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-01-03

Building on the huge success of the BBC Television series, this time we join the career petty criminal "Fletcher" (Ronnie Barker) and cellmate "Lenny" (Richard Beckinsale) in their Cumbrian wilderness prison where they regularly spar with chief warder "Mackay" (Fulton Mackay) and bamboozle the kindly "Barrowclough" (Brian Wilde). The van turns up one afternoon carrying two new arrivals. One is "Oakes" (Barrie Rutter) the other, well he's the new prison officer "Beal" (Christopher Godwin). The former is a bit of an heavy and it's soon clear that with the help of de facto prison governor "Grouty" (Peter Vaughan) he won't be staying long. To that end, "Fletch" is encouraged to organise a celebrity football match during which their latest inmate will do some body-swapping and make his escape. Of course, it nearly goes to plan but the unwitting "Lenny" manages to clash with a goalpost and next thing, they are both in the baggage hold of a bus heading to freedom. Abandoned by "Oakes" they conclude their best plan now is to break back in... There are some cracking one-liners and witty rhymes from the on-form Barker and he tussles engagingly with an equally on form Mackay who plays the pompous warden with considerable skill - both have super comedy timing. Beckinsale doesn't feature quite so much here, but is always good value as is Peter Vaughan as the cultured, opera-loving, version of "Mr. Bridger" and a really well cast group of supporting actors. They tried a few film versions of popular comedies in the 1970s and I think this is probably the best - it can still make you laugh.