The Magnificent 7 Deadly Sins - The Memorable TV DVD Review

Distributor: Umbrella Entertainment
Certificate: PG | 102 minutes | 1971
Director: Graham Stark
Extras: No

ANYONE IN IT WE KNOW?

Bruce Forsyth, Bernard Bresslaw, Cheryl Hall, Joan Sims, Roy Hudd, Harry Secombe, Geoffrey Bayldon, June Whitfield, Leslie Phillips, Julie Ege, Patrick Newell, Harry H. Corbett, Anouska Hempel, Ian Carmichael, Alfie Bass, Spike Milligam, Melvyn Hayes, Madeline Smith, Ronnie Barker, Marty Feldman, Ronald Fraser, Stephen Lewis,

SO IS IT ANY GOOD?

A great idea for a comedy movie, The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins at times seems like a carry on movie whilst at others reaches the surreal heights of Monty Python genius. Some high quality writers got involved from Steptoe and Son creators Ray Galton and Alan Simpson who reworked one of their Comedy Playhouse entries here featuring Ian Carmichael and the lovely Alfie Bass as two motorists who refuse to give way on a narrow country lane, stand outs are the two stories written by Monty Python’s Graham Chapman and Barry Cryer – Gluttony which features Leslie Phillips and the sexy Julie Ege starts with a visit to a Penthouse Photoshoot featuring an appearance from the legendary Bob Guccione and Penthouse Pet Tina McDowell before shifting to a

tale of an executive working for a slimming company who is so desperate for food that he spurns the attentions of his sexy boss, whilst Wrath sees park keeper Stephen Lewis (in his best Blakey from On The Buses mode) doing battle with a disgruntled park visitor played by Ronald Fraser. Spike Milligan’s effort Sloth is a faux silent movie which seems to bear no relation to anything involving a deadly sin, it does have the benefit of featuring the lovely Madeline Smith and the genius that is Ronnie Barker. Very entertaining and with it’s roll call of great British character actors there is as much to be had in playing “say isn’t that…” as there is in watching the movie.

Full of great 70’s fashions, check out the hot pants on the girl at the service station and some typically un pc dialogue and footage The Magnificent 7 Deadly Sins is truly vintage stuff. Well worth a look.

The 7 stories are

Avarice: Writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey with Bruce Forsyth

Envy written by Dave Freeman starring Harry Secombe

Gluttony by Graham Chapman and Barry Cryer with Leslie Phillips and Julie Ege

Lust by Graham Stark, story Marty Feldman starring Harry H Corbett

Pride by Galton and Simpson with Ian Carmichael and Alfie Bass

Sloth by Spike Milligan with Spike Milligan

Wrath by Barry Cryer and Graham Chapman with Ronald Fraser and Stephen Lewis

ANY SPECIAL FEATURES?

No extras unfortunately.