ridiculous rating

Dreadfully Boring

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

...Makes yet another black comedy drama featuring an up and coming actor with a subtext featuring sexual repression and surreal music sequences . Didn't he do this with the BBC sometime in the 1970s with that short London geezer ? I also believe he did it again in the 1980s with that Irish born actor with a skin condition . Both of which were turned in to Hollywood movies that flopped Somewhat strangely Potter was held in high regard and was a household name but LIPSTICK ON YOUR COLLAR is plageristic reworking of both PENNIES and DETECTIVE but where as some character from a TV play having a sex scene with a peroxide blonde might have been shocking in the 1970s here it passes without registering . Likewise abstract surrealism featuring a contemporary soundtrack quickly become tedious Thankfully there's enough deliberate bad and dreadful acting by Peter Jeffrey to keep the audience awake . His is a masterclass of how to play a pantomime dame in an amateur dramatic as he screeches " SA-ID . NOT CAIRO SA-ID " at every opportunity which contrasts with the charisma free lead of Ewan Mcgregor who has been painfully bland in every role in which he hasn't played an Edinburgh junkie . Oh dear this is also the mini series that set McGregor on to the role of stardom . Another good reason not to watch it

I never liked Dennis Potter until I saw this series. I don't like musicals – the idea of a group of people bursting into spontaneous communal song never appealed to me, but the combination of scenario (a post second world war era where the war is now fought as much in the halls of Whitehall as on the battlefield – and Britain is losing) and music (British 50's) just hit the right note with me (pun intended). The characters are superb (this was the first thing I ever saw Ewan McGregor in) and the situations genuine. The relationships between the junior ranks in both military and civilian life in the era they are set are really believable (so my dad says). I loved the music so much I bought the CD, I just wish they would bring it out on DVD. Thanks Dennis.

In my view this is one of Potter's most impressive works. It has been years since I saw the series on television but I remember it became the highlight of my week. The unpredictable plot and the surreal use of day dreams and 50's music was masterful.Louise Germaine was brilliantly cast as the stunningly beautiful Sylvia. She was beautiful that is until she spoke, revealing the most dreadful accent. A memorable performance. Even back in the early nineties it was clear that Ewan MrGegor was destined to go on to greater things.Highly recommended viewing.

Like all of Dennis Potter's work, this shows us what film could & should be. It wakens all the old dormant brain cells. Yes, imagination & inspiration do still live & are still the main ingredients of REAL ART!!! Not necessarily compatible with democracy, tho, maybe, who knows?