COMIC STRIP PRESENTS, THE: THE STRIKE (TV)
Summary
One in this series of subversive comedy films created by and starring The Comic Strip comedy ensemble. This film is about Paul, a former Welsh coal miner and aspiring screenwriter trying to turn his hard-hitting script about union leader Arthur Scargill and the 1984 British Miners' Strike into a movie. The program begins with Paul leaving his small village and traveling to meet with Golden Pictures. Immediately, Golden Pictures wants to make some "tiny" changes to the script and add pizzazz to the film. In addition, plans are in place to cast Al Pacino as Scargill and Meryl Streep as his wife. Paul voices some "niggles" with the production studio's planned "Hollywoodization" of the film. Later, Pacino arrives in town and is immediately displeased with his lodgings, quickly selecting his own by commandeering a local woman's home. He has some further issues with the final pages of Paul's script, thinking that Scargill needs to be less of a "loser." However, Paul refuses to compromise on Scargill's character or the miners having lost the strike -- until getting a huge check. Soon production has begun, with a clueless Hollywood director taking over, and Paul handling pizza-wrangling duties. That night, Pacino comes to Paul's hotel room to spend the evening and talk about the screenplay. Also, Streep arrives in town, quickly making her own changes to the script. Footage of the completed "Strike" is interspersed throughout the rest of the production, starting with an excerpt showing Scargill's beginnings as a "Das Kapital"-wielding young miner and his life as an outcast during the strike. Meanwhile, Paul is awakened one night by a nightmare that the real Scargill wants revenge for Paul having sold out and revised the screenplay. Soon enough, however, Paul is acting on Pacino's request to add a comedic, drug-fueled "panty raid" scene to the script. Watching the "dailies," Paul is horrified by how his film is turning out. Afterward, the studio begins work trying to "sell" the picture, with mayhem-filled commercial teasers and Pacino blundering his way through television talk shows. Later, at a prestigious awards ceremony -- interspersed with the over-the-top conclusion of "Strike" -- Paul and the cast and crew garner many honors. Paul returns to his hometown to see strikers protesting in front of the village's theater -- showing "Strike."
Details
- NETWORK: Channel 4 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: February 20, 1988
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:34
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:14141
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - United Kingdom; She Made It Collection (Jennifer Saunders)
- SERIES RUN: Channel 4 (United Kingdom) - TV series, 1982-1993
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Michael White … Executive Producer
- Chris Brown … Producer
- Peter Richardson … Director, Writer
- Pete Richens … Writer
- Richard Niles … Music by
- Peter Richardson … Cast, Pacino
- Jennifer Saunders … Cast, Meryl
- Alexei Sayle … Cast, Paul
- Dawn French … Cast, Verity, Old Lady, Celebrity
- Nigel Planer … Cast, Bernard, Old Man, Camp Actor 1
- Robbie Coltrane … Cast, Goldie, Dutch Celebrity
- Adrian Edmondson … Cast, Adrian, Slim, Policeman
- Keith Allen … Cast, Film Executive, Camp Actor 2, Architect, Celebrity
- Rik Mayall … Cast, Speaker, Huncback
- Ronald Allen … Cast, Prime Minister
- Kevin Allen … Cast, Workman, Film Crew Member, TV Interviewer, Waiter, Hotel Manager, Third Man, Cinemagoer
- Katrina Mansoor … Cast, Tammy
- Derren Nesbitt … Cast, Chauffeur, McGregor
- Steven O'Donnell … Cast, Gerry, Second Man, Picketer
- Daniel Peacock … Cast, Workman 1
- Pete Richens … Cast, Workman 2
- Arthur Scargill