After ten years as a missionary in Africa, Michael Palin (who also wrote this comedy) returns to England to marry his childhood sweetheart, Phoebe Nicolls. Phoebe is devoted to him, but a complete imbecile. When Michael's superior Denholm Elliot tells him his new assignment, it's a shock but an interesting challenge. He's to get to know the prostitutes in London and set up a mission house for them to save their souls.
The Missionary has very dry humor, very British humor. If you don't like the old "Buried my wife the other day. Had to, you know, she was dead" jokes, you won't like this movie. It's full of tongue-in-cheek set-ups, like a butler who continually gets lost in his large estate house. Maggie Smith is a wealthy Lady who dangles her donation to Michael's mission house with the key to her bedroom. She doesn't take no for an answer and actually hops in his bed - as do the wayward prostitutes so grateful to be rescued by the missionary. Trevor Howard steals the show by playing Maggie's loud, brash husband completely oblivious to his wife's behavior. "Who are those people I hate?" he asks while writing a scathing letter to the editor. Maggie smiles as she simultaneously answers and spots her target: "Missionaries."
Not everyone will like this movie, and I certainly wasn't prepared for what it turned out to be. I thought it was a period piece drama, but it turned out to be a silly comedy. Fun, funny, and light, I'd recommend it if you're tired of serious dramas. Plus you'll get to see two very young fellows: David Suchet and Timothy Spall.
The Missionary has very dry humor, very British humor. If you don't like the old "Buried my wife the other day. Had to, you know, she was dead" jokes, you won't like this movie. It's full of tongue-in-cheek set-ups, like a butler who continually gets lost in his large estate house. Maggie Smith is a wealthy Lady who dangles her donation to Michael's mission house with the key to her bedroom. She doesn't take no for an answer and actually hops in his bed - as do the wayward prostitutes so grateful to be rescued by the missionary. Trevor Howard steals the show by playing Maggie's loud, brash husband completely oblivious to his wife's behavior. "Who are those people I hate?" he asks while writing a scathing letter to the editor. Maggie smiles as she simultaneously answers and spots her target: "Missionaries."
Not everyone will like this movie, and I certainly wasn't prepared for what it turned out to be. I thought it was a period piece drama, but it turned out to be a silly comedy. Fun, funny, and light, I'd recommend it if you're tired of serious dramas. Plus you'll get to see two very young fellows: David Suchet and Timothy Spall.