The Accidental Death of an Anarchist

I'm so glad I found someone else in the world who saw this. I was beginning to think I was the only one!

It's a truly excellent comedy - anarchic, insane, controversial, thought provoking. Even now, 23 years later I can still remember the lines and key moments. Comedy acting at its best, with ad lib moments and quick thinking throughout.

All the actors put their whole heart and being into the parts, and it's unlike anything you've seen before, seeming to be almost unscripted in parts.

The question now is can you get it on video? I'd love to get hold of this!

It's a very surreal studio based version of the play. Very much of it's era, I saw it in 1983 when it first came out and again about 5 years ago (a friend had taped it).

For those unfamiliar with the play it concerns the investigation of how an anarchist fell to his death from the window of a police station. The only issue is that the investigating magistrate is an imposter, or an escaped lunatic.

He has the policemen involved tied up in knots by his actions.

The end poses a moral question over state vs anarchy.

I did ask Channel 4 if they would ever show it again and they said probably not. A great pity.

:: Author: graham_johnson from London,england :: I saw it in 1983 when it first came out and again about 5 years ago (a friend had taped it).

:: I did ask Channel 4 if they would ever show it again and they said probably not.

Locate that friend. CAREFULLY make a copy. Run, do not walk, to the British Film Institute.

I'm reliably informed that the reason C4 will "probably not" show it again is not any lack of desire or awareness of public interest...

Apparently they lost their master in an accident, and there is no known complete copy of this programme still existing ANYEHERE.

If anyone knows the location of even partial copies, there are attempts in progress to reconstruct it.

I first saw this in the mid '80s when I was living in London. Fortunately I taped it so I was able to see it again several times over the course of a few years. It was an absolutely fabulous production.

Sadly I lost possession of the tape in the late '80s and haven't been able to find a copy of it since. It is a true masterpiece and I will be thrilled if it is ever released on video or DVD.

There has been a death in a police station in Milan. The police say it was suicide, but the coroner says accidental death and now there are riots and an inquiry is about to start. Enter the Lunatic (Gavin Richards - now in BBC's Eastenders) who impersonates a judge and conducts the inquiry. All hell breaks loose.

What can I say - this has to be seen to be believed. It is a little dated by the political jokes (especially about Mrs Thatcher's regime) - but still hysterically funny. I first saw this when I was in my teens and my sister and I will still spontaneously burst into bits of this at the slightest provocation. This is definitely not for the conservative viewer. It definitely helps if your own politics are to the left of centre (or a long way left of centre for Americans). But definitely worth tracking down. enjoy