asente@decwrl.UUCP (Paul Asente) (05/07/84)
I just saw a wonderful movie called "Privates on Parade." It's currently showing in several Bay Area theaters; I don't know how widely it's being distributed but if you get the chance you should definately go see it. The film is about a "Song and Dance Unit" (SADU) of the British Army just after World War II. This is more or less the equivalent of the USO, I guess. The troupe's show is being directed by a flamboyant middle-aged gay man, played hilariously be Denis Quilley. The part is thoroughly stereotyped (he wears purple neck scarves with his uniform, calls everyone else by women's names, and can't say anything that isn't a double-entendre) but the character is very simpathetic. When he did his Carmen Miranda and Andrews Sisters routines, I thought I'd fall off of my chair laughing. The troupe is a mixture of gays, straights, and borderline cases all excellently portrayed. In one scene, one of the players tells the director that he and another of the men are in love and planning to stay together, and in the next scene the two lovers sing a duet in the show that almost brought tears to my eyes. It was very touching. John Cleese (of Monty Python) plays the commander of the unit who never quite figures out what is going on. He's just about the only member of the cast that doesn't dress up in drag at least once in the movie! Python fans may be disappointed because his performance is quite restrained, but his part is still one of the funniest in the film. Be sure to stay all the way through the credits at the end. Paul says check it out. -paul asente (decvax,ihnp4,ucbvax,...)!decwrl!asente