The Great McGonagall

Audience Reviews

View More

01/10/2020 Abysmal self-indulgent and incompetent garbage. Seemingly shot on a budget of nothing and in apparent near darkness, who knows why this was green lit. Milligan was never best served by being overindulged. Someone should have had a word. See more 09/04/2017 laugh out loud riot about the worlds worst poet See more 07/28/2016 Lackluster Spike Milligan vehicle that lacks decent jokes. Peter Sellers has a cameo part and his scenes do enhance proceedings, but he's not in it for long. See more 05/20/2016 bizarre film as the world's worst poet falls in love with Queen Victoria. some sparks of pure genius from milligan amongst some quiet poor material. See more 09/03/2011 Directed by Joseph McGrath (Casino Royale (1967) and The Magic Christian (1969)), and co-written with the great Spike Milligan. This is a Goonish comedy, all filmed at Wilton's Music Hall in Whitechapel, London, and it's a comedic look at the life of one of Spike's heroes. He may not have been a great poet, but he had the ambition and could fool you into thinking he was a genius. Set in the 1800's, this is about William Topaz McGonagall Esq. (Spike), who gives up his job as a full time unemployed Scottish weaver to devote his life to poetry. He does acting work on the stage, where he uses the opportunity to recite some of his poetry. However, people hate it, and he uses the fruit and veg they fling at him as food for his family. But, McGonagall perserveres, and falls in love with Queen Victoria (Peter Sellers), who is very big in England. McGonagall devotes most of his poetry to her majesty, and although she rejects his advances and kindness, he still has dreams of becoming Poet Laureate. But, most of the highlights is all in his head. This is very silly, with some very funny moments and gags, (Prince Albert looks like Hitler, and the cast breaking for lunch, and government health warnings on coffins.) But, Spike has a likeable presence as McGonagall, eccentric and hilarious, with Sellers adding lunacy to the part as Queen Victoria, as well as Spike's regulars like John Bluthal, Victor Spinetti and Charlie Atom. :P See more 08/31/2009 Greatly flawed, but the idea of a good film about the world's worst poet seems so very wrong. Spike Milligan made sure that would never come to be. That said, moments of this film (?) are absolutely hilarious. Spike Milligan is the perfect McGonagall. Peter Sellers is wonderful as Queen Victoria. See more Read all reviews

The Great McGonagall

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW