Stiff Upper Lips is an incredibly funny spoof on Britain at the turn of the last century. The humour is very British (therefore some Americans may not understand it), and had people rolling in the aisles the time I saw it in 1998. However, the British humour meant that there was an immense lack of American backing. Over a year after the film was withdrawn in the UK, it was shown in the US - for about a week. Reviews about its "lack" of "humor" were largely based around American misunderstandings - in particular, Prunella Scale's wonderful line, which (roughly translated for our American readers) asked all American tourists to go home and stay home, was probably not received all that well. However, I found its self-deprecating humour and jibes against just about everyone (it is not exactly politically correct, thank heavens) delightful, witty and superb. The acting, as should be expected from Scales and Ustinov, was superb. The opening sketch involving a corset, a horse and a beautiful young maiden set the whole film off perfectly. This is zany comedy at its best. Will somebody please release it on video in Britain?!
Review of Stiff Upper Lips
