I had never heard about this film before it was broadcast on television, I was firstly attracted to it because of the great cast of British talent, and the concept sounded interesting, written by BAFTA nominated Alan Bennett (Prick Up Your Ears, The Madness of King George, The History Boys, The Lady in the Van). Basically set two years after the Second World War, Great Britain is continuing to endure food rationing. In a small Northern English town in 1947, the citizens are excited about the marriage of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Philip. Some local businessmen want to celebrate the royal wedding, but the rationing of meat makes it difficult. Leonard Sutcliff the Farmer (Chicken Run's Tony Haygarth) has been raising a pig that will be slaughtered for its meat for the occasion. Dr. Charles Swaby (BAFTA winning Denholm Elliott),Henry Allardyce the Accountant (Richard Griffiths),Frank Lockwood the Solicitor (John Normington) and Douglas J. Nuttol the Butcher (Pete Postlethwaite) are the only men who are aware of this illegally raised animal. However, the pig is stolen by Gilbert Chilvers (Michael Palin) the Chiropodist, he was reluctant to do so, but was encouraged by his wife Joyce (BAFTA winning Dame Maggie Smith). The couple keep the pig hidden in their home and continue to fatten it ready for when it comes to slaughtering it. Keeping this a secret from the businessmen and other village people is very difficult, and there is Morris Wormold the Meat Inspector (Bill Paterson) is determined to stop activities going against the food rationing. Eventually, through various circumstances, including the mutterings of Joyce's eccentric Mother (BAFTA winning Liz Smith),Swaby, Allardyce, Lockwood and Nuttol find out they have been hiding the pig. To avoid detection from Wormold, who is at that moment waiting in his car, that Nuttol should slaughter the pig there and then, Joyce plays the piano to hide the noises being made. In the end, there is a couple celebrating their own wedding, the slaughtered pig becomes part of a feast for this occasion. Also starring Alison Steadman as Mrs Allardyce, Jim Carter as Inspector Noble and Eileen O'Brien as Mrs Sutcliff. All the cast members get their moments, the script is witty and interesting enough, it is one of those films full of very subtle jokes, it works much more as a satirical look of the time of it is set, a worthwhile comedy. It was nominated the BAFTA for Best Film. Good!

So says Michael Palin after his wife Maggie Smith thrusts a knife into his hands, demanding that he kill the filthy beast making a mess in their middle class home. It is just after the war and there is a meat shortage. Butchers close faster than they open and some are accused of passing if horse as beef. Smith is a bit of a social climber here, trying too hard to impress those who are in a higher class. Neighbors suspect something is up as the odor from their house is unbearable. In fact, the pig is seen urinating, but fortunately, the audience is spared the sight of it defacating. In short, this is a black comedy that may not be for all tastes, especially those who don't eat pork.

After their teaming in "The Missionary", Palin and Smith were reunited for this strange comedy where the goal seems to be about making the audience sit gaping. As always, Smith is center of attention, but even she has a difficult time holding court when Liz Smith is on as her somewhat senile mother. Palin is delightfully droll, and Denholm Elliott and Richard Griffiths add authority. I really had a difficult time in tying to perceive what the film was trying to say, but had a hard time in finding fault with the darkness of the situation. So while I don't think I ever venture back in watching this again, I still recommend it for its performances, especially the two Smiths.

"A Private Function" is a dark comedy set in a small town in 1947 England. It has several interwoven plots. They are related to the overall theme of the post-war rationing of bacon and other meat that was in effect in the UK. (Meat rationing in the UK would not end until 1954). The British were excited about the forthcoming wedding of Princess Elizabeth to Prince Phillip on Nov 20.

The main plot is about a community caper. Some men of this small town had planned a private celebration dinner for the occasion. But, for the meal, they had acquired a pig many months prior on the black market. One of them was a local farmer who raised the pig in an enclosure hidden in the woods. They all saved their table scraps for trips out to the woods to feed the pig. They have to stay one step ahead of an overly zealous meat inspector who is shutting down butchers who have been dealing meat in the black market.

Then, weaving in and out of this scenario is a couple who are fairly new to the town. He is a chiropodist, who works mainly on women's feet; and she is a piano teacher. But they are not yet members of the upper society, and she pines for such status. They have not been invited to the upcoming function.

When he discovers the hidden pig, she prods him to steal it, which he does. Over the next day or so, things get quite hectic and smelly in their home with the pig on the loose in the house. Other shenanigans are going on before all of this somewhat works out.

The cast is very good. Maggie Smith, Denholm Elliott and Liz Smith won BAFTA awards for their performances. Michael Palin, Richard Griffiths, Pete Postlethwaite and Tony Haygarth lead the rest of a very good supporting cast.

This is not a film of witty and funny dialog. It is mostly tongue-in-cheek humor or very wry humor. It's has crude and crass segments that, I think, detract from the film. Not everyone will enjoy this type of film, and it isn't a family picture by any means.

Here are the best lines in the film.

Henry Allardyce, "Are we doing wrong, Frank?" Frank Lockwood, "Of course we're doing wrong. It's a crime." Allardyce, "I've never committed a crime before." Lockwood, "Thought you were an accountant."

Joyce Chilvers, " I want a future that will live up too my past. But when's it going to start?"

Joyce Chilvers, "It's not just pork, Gilbert. It's power."