I’m currently working my way through the Michael Palin
Diaries on Audible and in ‘Halfway to Hollywood’ he covers at length the
gestation, filming, promotion and reaction to ‘The Missionary’. It is a
fascinating listen and well worth the required 27 hours of your time.
When you learn about the many issues in play, it’s amazing
that any film is ever made and a good one even more. At the time of production,
Palin was fresh from the success of ‘Life of Brian’ and ‘Time Bandits’, both of
which gave him a writing credit. He was given free reign for his first solo
feature, following the TV success of ‘Ripping Yarns’. ‘The Missionary’ was the
result, one of the fledging films of ‘Handmade Films’ largely bankrolled by ex-Beatle,
George Harrison.
Having learned so much about the background of the film I
felt guilty in not liking it more. It is a worthwhile production but seems
somewhat insubstantial with a lot happening off camera and there not being much
in the way of believable character development.
Palin stars as Charles Fortescue, the titular missionary.
The film opens with his name being painted out from an honours board, so we
know things don’t end well for him, at least as far as the establishment is
concerned. We flashback to his time in Africa and there are some sumptuous scenes
of Palin in the bush, no not like that, teaching kids and spreading the good
word.
After ten years of service, he heads back to England for his
next posting and to marry his patient fiancé, the annoying Deborah, who has the
twin irritations of a nasally voice and a love of filing. Fortesque meets the
bishop (Denholm Elliott) who asks that he set up a mission for fallen women in
the slums of London. To add to his challenge, he is also to arrange the funding
for this endeavour. He meets with the wealthy Lord Ames (Trevor Howard in fine
batty form) but makes more of a connection with his wife, played by Maggie
Smith.
Lady Ames is a frustrated housewife who wastes no time in
telling Fortescue that if he takes care of her, she’ll take care of the
funding. The deal is settled when following a late-night visit to his room, the
good lady takes care of Fortescue under the covers.
Things move apace with a wonderfully realised London giving
a fine backdrop to Fortescue’s research and then mission house. He goes to a
hooker’s house to ask her some questions but soon succumbs to her questionable
charms. I didn’t really buy his weakness here, but I guess the point is he’s
sexually repressed and will take any offer he gets – and he does!
Soon the mission house is full and when Lady Ames finds Fortescue
in the company of some scantily clad lovelies, she withdraws funding. This
causes the girls to go back on the streets and the place is soon flourishing.
Alas, the other mission houses aren’t getting their share and complaints to the
bishop cause Fortescue to be given an ultimatum to leave or be defrocked. He doesn’t
have his troubles to seek as he also gets wind of a plan of Lady Ames to kill
her husband, and he must head to Scotland to intervene.
On the grouse fields will Fortescue save the day? and what
will become of Lady Ames and the mission?
There is a lot to like here with some wonderful sets and
some fine cinematography. Great care is taken over every shot and the cast is
excellent, with Timothy Spall appearing in a small role and Michael Hordern as
a scatty butler who does his getting lost bit too often for my liking.
The film does ask a lot of the viewer. It’s only 80 odd
minutes and the character jumps are somewhat jarring. Fortescue is seemingly a
devoted missionary and fiancée but is soon boffing anything that moves. Lady
Ames is also poorly drawn with late revelations and an outcome that didn’t ring
true at all.
In his diaries Palin bemoans poor test screenings and late
edits and I’ve no doubt a longer and better film lies chopped up on the editor’s
floor. For all it’s faults though there is plenty to like with a few laughs, a
fine cast and some lovely sets, setting it apart from the standard period
piece.
THE Tag Line : Let us pray - for a better film! 58%
