John Cleese - Romance With A Double Bass
by Robert Young
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Actor: Connie Booth, Desmond Jones, Freddie Jones, Graham Crowden, John CleeseDirector: Robert Young
Brand: Kultur
Writer: John Cleese
Writer: Connie Booth
Writer: Robert Young
Producer: Ian Gordon
Producer: N. David King
Writer: Anton Chekhov
Writer: Bill Owen
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 40 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-07-15
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: White Star
DVD Reviews of John Cleese - Romance With A Double Bass
DVD Review: Dead Parrot Not Included: Charming Tale About the Princess and the Musican (Both Naked)
Summary: 5 Stars
After quitting `Monty Python's Flying Circus' in 1973, John Cleese went on to create his best work in his career so far - actually the best comedy ever made in the history of the world. That is `Fawlty Towers,' incredibly funny comedy about the worst hotel and its delightfully arrogant owner Basil Fawlty. It is regrettable that they only made 12 episodes.
`A Romance with a Double Bass,' shot in 1974, prior to the 1st six episodes of `Fawlty,' is NOT the unreleased 13th episode about Basil and Polly though it features three of the actors seen in this landmark comedy, and contains some funny moments. You also should not expect the craziness of Monty, such as Cleese doing silly walk. No, it is a love story, and John Cleese means it ... even though he is stark naked.
Based on Chekhov's short story, `A Romance with a Double Bass' opens with double bass player Smychkov (Cleese) arriving at the Russian palace where a betrothal ball is going to be held. As he arrived too early on a hot summer's day, he decides to take a bath in a lake nearby, little knowing that the Princess (Booth) has done the same.
Things get complicated (and funny) when a passing thief takes away the clothes of the both. Chivalrous Smychkov promises the distraught Princess to bring her back safely to the palace like a true gentleman. Luckily, the thief didn't steal the double bass case. in which the naked Princess can hide.
Their misadventure results in the unexpected romance of the two, which is the most charming of the film. John Cleese and Connie Booth (then married) manage to show enough chemistry between them to convince us of the budding romance in spite of the short running time of the film.
This 40 minute film may sound like an extended sketch from `Monty Python' at first, but John Cleese and Connie Booth (both credited as writer) are obviously trying to make the film not too silly. The behaviors of both characters, funny as they are, are always based on the reasonable motives, so you will never see a dead parrot or flying sheep here.
Additional fun is the appearance of Andrew Sachs as musician, who was later cast as Manuel in `Fawlty Towers.' The film also has British character actor Freddie Jones, and is directed by Robert Young, the original director of `Fierce Creatures' starring John Cleese.
For all its background, `A Romance with a Double Bass' should be enjoyed out of the context of two leading actors' careers. Don't try to find any `Monty' sketch nor `Fawlty Towers' episode. It is a romance from a Russian writer, Anton Chekhov, master of storytelling, and this charming adaptation well-reflects the fact.
Description of John Cleese - Romance With A Double Bass
Studio: Kultur Release Date: 02/28/2006 Run time: 40 minutesBestsellers in DVD
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