A Chorus of Disapproval

Watch A Chorus of Disapproval

  • PG
  • 1988
  • 1 hr 45 min
  • 5.6  (931)

A Chorus of Disapproval is a British comedy-drama film directed by Michael Winner based on the play of the same name by Alan Ayckbourn. The movie stars Jeremy Irons as Guy Jones, a diffident widower who joins an amateur operatic society, the Pendon Amateur Light Operatic Society (PALOS), and ends up in the lead role in their new production of The Beggar's Opera. Anthony Hopkins plays Dafydd ap Llewellyn, the eccentric director of PALOS who puts Guy in the lead role, while Richard Briers portrays Jarvis Huntley-Pike, the local property developer who funds the society but is eager to take control of its artistic direction.

The film is set in the fictional town of Glyndebourne-on-Sea on the Sussex coast, and as Guy becomes more involved with the society he becomes entangled in its various romantic and political intrigues. He starts an affair with Hannah Llewellyn (Prunella Scales), Dafydd's neglected wife, and also becomes the object of desire for Fay Hubbard (Jenny Seagrove), a flirtatious soprano in the society. Meanwhile, Huntley-Pike schemes to oust Dafydd and take over PALOS, and various members of the group jostle for position and influence.

The movie is both a satire of amateur dramatics and a commentary on power struggles and conformity within small communities. Ayckbourn's script is sharp and acerbic, and Winner's direction brings out the best in his talented cast. Irons gives a nuanced performance as Guy, portraying him as a man torn between his desire for acceptance and his growing disillusionment with the society's dysfunctionality. Hopkins is delightfully hammy as Dafydd, a self-absorbed egomaniac who takes himself far too seriously, while Briers is suitably oily as Huntley-Pike, a man with a political agenda disguised as artistic ambition.

The film's musical numbers are charmingly staged and well-executed, with the society's performance of The Beggar's Opera serving as a highlight. The various romantic subplots are also handled deftly, with the relationships between Guy, Hannah, and Fay providing plenty of humorous and dramatic moments. The film is shot in a bright and breezy style that perfectly suits the seaside setting, and the costumes and sets are suitably colorful and quirky.

Overall, A Chorus of Disapproval is an entertaining and engaging film that showcases the talents of its excellent cast and director. It's a witty and incisive look at the foibles of human behavior and the petty rivalries that can arise within seemingly harmonious groups. Whether or not you have any interest in amateur dramatics, this film is sure to provide plenty of laughs and thought-provoking observations.

A Chorus of Disapproval
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Description
  • Release Date
    1988
  • MPAA Rating
    PG
  • Runtime
    1 hr 45 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.6  (931)
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