The Best Pair of Legs in the Business

Caught this on Sunday morning TV in New Zealand and was taken aback by its rather grim examination of a cross-dressing musical hall entertainer at the end of his career even though he doesn't know it. With a son who despises him and a boss who has no loyalty to anyone Kevin Laffan creates a tragic character in Sherry Sheridan. Mention of Mike Leigh in another comment isn't far off the mark - this is emotionally hard hitting piece that only gets the tag of comedy because the characters are comedians by trade and people seem to think people with cockney accents must be funny - there's nothing funny off stage here.

When I saw the cast and the date the film was made, I thought we were in for an 'On the Buses' spin-off, with all the usual crudity and low-grade gags and slapstick. In fact it turned out to be quite a touching story from which I found it impossible to tear myself. It suffers from having the cast it does, as it screams 'cheap 70's low-rent production', but there's a surprise in Reg Varney's portrayal of the holiday camp drag act who is losing his looks and his wife as he stubbornly clings to the life he knows, despite his new boss making his life a misery. Reg turns in a very good performance, although he does over-do it from time to time. Diana Coupland is her usual excellent self in her role as the long-suffering wife who eventually can take no more. A good film. Not great, but good.

I cannot believe I have never come across the British film before. Reg Varney was excellent in the leading role. His characterization of the Comedy Host of the Holiday Camp was played to perfection It's a sad story but full of 1970-s colour, and I don't just mean the caravan curtains. Jane Seymour makes her pre-Live and Let Die appearance in a bit part and gorgeous David Lincoln (Family at War) is excellently cast. I always wonder what happened to him. Complete with the serenely beautiful Diana Coupland this film is a must see for all true Britflick fans.

Very weak British comedy. Reg Varney acts well to hold together this flimsy and to be quite frank quite uninspiring tale about a failed drag-act comedian who suffers illusions of grandeur. This film tries to mix drama with comedy and unfortunately fails to do either with much success.

Reg Varney gives a genuinely affecting performance in this comedy drama. Seeing him, i expected it to be a cheesy 70's sex comedy but it wasn't at all. The film gives women some credit, and is not about nudity. Without the overuse of unsubtle "emotive"music it would have been better, perhaps like a Mike Leigh movie. Still, some parts were rather melodramatic and visually it was boring. Reg Varney deserved more credit for this effort.