Bed Sitting Room

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Bed Sitting Room

PG-13

Released Sep 28, 1969

1h 30m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

64%

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14 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

250+ Ratings

Among the ruins of a London devastated by nuclear war, the survivors ineffectually cling to increasingly meaningless social structures. While radioactivity randomly transforms various people into animals and inanimate objects, an absurd election for prime minister takes place. And the parents of Penelope (Rita Tushingham), a young woman who's been with child for nearly a year and a half, want her to marry a man with a promising future, though the fate of the world itself is rather dim.

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Vincent Canby

New York Times

Apocalyptic or prophetic cinema, whether it is in the form of science fiction or farce, demands more than picturesque sets and costumes and a decent, concerned sensibility.

Feb 9, 2019

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

All of the characters are mad, of course, but that's not the point; this isn't a heavy-handed anti-war parable, but a series of sketches that gradually grow more and more grim.

Rated: 2.5/4

Feb 9, 2019

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

One of [Lester's] best efforts, a remarkably sharp and deadly satire.

Feb 9, 2019

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Arthur Ross

Los Angeles Free Press

The culmination of [Richard Lester's] career to date.

Jan 8, 2020

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Penelope Houston

The Spectator

Anything goes, so in the long run nothing much goes, and we're left with actors scampering through charades whose import becomes vaguer with every wild-eyed hit or miss apparition.

Feb 9, 2019

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Tony Sloman

Radio Times

Lester is quite at home in this surreal world.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 9, 2019

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Audience Member

I don't wish to comment, other than to state that this is one of my favourite films of all time. It is a film that doesn't age but, changes according to time. I saw it about the time it was released and many times since and each time the relevance and new insight comes with passing time and changing world. It is the kind of film i would watch to make sure everything is still allright. Incidentally; the word 'favourite' , i just wrote was underlined, to inform me of a spelling mistake, where in reality, i had spelt it correctly.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

Not a laugh in it! Lame attempt at Monty Python-esque humor.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

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delysid d

i can see why people hated this movie... it was awful

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/22/18

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Audience Member

Unbearably, darkly comic.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Mischief is afoot from the very start of this very British apocalypse... Plot, visuals, script all equally disrupted by nuclear war- but an oddly touching black comedy--A British El Topo!!

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

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Audience Member

Farcical post-apocalyptic satire from director Richard Lester. The film takes place in England three years after a nuclear war. The film is mostly a series of vignettes, fewturing a terrific cast, taking place amongst rubble, but the main story focuses on a girl who lives in a London underground subway car and her parents moves out in the name of love. There is also an odd story involving former Prime Minister Ralph Richardson believing that he is slowing turning into a bed sitting room. The film has some clever ideas and some memorable moments sprinkled throughout, which does make it worth watching, but the film doesn't really come together as a whole. One of those bright moments in the film is the film debut of Marty Feldman. It's not for all tastes, but fans of British humor will probably enjoy it.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Richard Lester

Director

Rita Tushingham

Penelope

Ralph Richardson

Lord Fortnum of Alamein

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Synopsis

Among the ruins of a London devastated by nuclear war, the survivors ineffectually cling to increasingly meaningless social structures. While radioactivity randomly transforms various people into animals and inanimate objects, an absurd election for prime minister takes place. And the parents of Penelope (Rita Tushingham), a young woman who's been with child for nearly a year and a half, want her to marry a man with a promising future, though the fate of the world itself is rather dim.

Director: Richard Lester
Producer: Richard Lester
Screenwriter: John Antrobus
Production Co: Oscar Lewenstein Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Some Sexual Content)
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: British English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 28, 1969, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 16, 2008
Runtime: 1h 30m

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