The Passionate Pilgrim (film)
Encyclopedia
Passionate Pilgrim is a short feature film starring Eric Morecambe
, Tom Baker
and Madeline Smith
notable for being Morecambe's last work, and one of few to not feature his long-term partner Ernie Wise
. The film takes the setting of a silent film
with narration provided by John Le Mesurier
of Dad's Army
fame, this too was some of his last work prior to his death in 1983. The film centres around a Lord
who lives in a castle (the film was made entirely on location at Hever Castle
) and his Lady
the latter of which attracts the amorous attentions of the titular character. The plot centres around the pilgrim's failed attempts to gain entry to the castle
by any means possible, and the lengths the lord will go to in order to stop him. In one memorable scene once the assailant has gained entry the lord brandishes an aerosol can labelled "Knight-Rid" to stop the pilgrim in his tracks. This film harks back to the era of silent films and is an unusual swansong for the much-missed comedian.
Further filming at Hever was planned May 1984 as filmmaker Charles Wallace intended to expand the film using Beryl Reid
to play Eric’s mother, and another damsel in the cast. Morecambe's death ensured that further scenes were not made, but the film was released in its original shorter form. The film was released with the James Bond movie Octopussy
and WarGames
(see production company website movingimageco.com). It was later shown on numerous cable TV channels and was released in 1994 on VHS
at a time of resurgence in interest in the work of Morecambe and Wise
, the BBC
having screened a three (late expanded to five) part tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of his death. It has subsequently also been released on DVD
and is widely available, more so in fact than the bulk of the duo's hugely successful television series.
Eric Morecambe
John Eric Bartholomew OBE , known by his stage name Eric Morecambe, was an English comedian who together with Ernie Wise formed the award-winning double act Morecambe and Wise. The partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death of a heart attack in 1984...
, Tom Baker
Tom Baker
Thomas Stewart "Tom" Baker is a British actor. He is best known for playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the science fiction television series Doctor Who, a role he played from 1974 to 1981.-Early life:...
and Madeline Smith
Madeline Smith
Madeline Smith is an English actress and comedienne. She was a model in the 1960s, and appeared in many comedy films Madeline Smith (born 2 August 1949 in Hartfield, Sussex) is an English actress and comedienne. She was a model in the 1960s, and appeared in many comedy films Madeline Smith (born 2...
notable for being Morecambe's last work, and one of few to not feature his long-term partner Ernie Wise
Ernie Wise
Ernest Wiseman OBE , known by his stage name Ernie Wise, was an English comedian, best known as one half of the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise, who became an institution on British television, especially for their Christmas specials.-Career:Ernest Wiseman was the eldest of five children, and changed...
. The film takes the setting of a silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
with narration provided by John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier
John Le Mesurier was a BAFTA Award-winning English actor. He is most famous for his role as Sergeant Arthur Wilson in the popular 1970s BBC comedy Dad's Army.-Career:...
of Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
fame, this too was some of his last work prior to his death in 1983. The film centres around a Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
who lives in a castle (the film was made entirely on location at Hever Castle
Hever Castle
Hever Castle is located in the village of Hever near Edenbridge, Kent, south-east of London, England. It began as a country house, built in the 13th century...
) and his Lady
Lady
The word lady is a polite term for a woman, specifically the female equivalent to, or spouse of, a lord or gentleman, and in many contexts a term for any adult woman...
the latter of which attracts the amorous attentions of the titular character. The plot centres around the pilgrim's failed attempts to gain entry to the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
by any means possible, and the lengths the lord will go to in order to stop him. In one memorable scene once the assailant has gained entry the lord brandishes an aerosol can labelled "Knight-Rid" to stop the pilgrim in his tracks. This film harks back to the era of silent films and is an unusual swansong for the much-missed comedian.
Further filming at Hever was planned May 1984 as filmmaker Charles Wallace intended to expand the film using Beryl Reid
Beryl Reid
Beryl Elizabeth Reid, OBE was a British actress of stage and screen.-Early life:Born in Hereford, England in 1919, Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in Manchester where she attended Withington and Levenshulme High Schools.-Career:Reid applied for and was accepted in a revue in...
to play Eric’s mother, and another damsel in the cast. Morecambe's death ensured that further scenes were not made, but the film was released in its original shorter form. The film was released with the James Bond movie Octopussy
Octopussy
Octopussy is the thirteenth entry in the James Bond series, and the sixth to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's title is taken from a short story in Ian Fleming's 1966 short story collection Octopussy and The Living Daylights...
and WarGames
WarGames
WarGames is a 1983 American Cold War suspense/science-fiction film written by Lawrence Lasker and Walter F. Parkes and directed by John Badham. The film stars Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy....
(see production company website movingimageco.com). It was later shown on numerous cable TV channels and was released in 1994 on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
at a time of resurgence in interest in the work of Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
, the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
having screened a three (late expanded to five) part tribute to mark the tenth anniversary of his death. It has subsequently also been released on DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and is widely available, more so in fact than the bulk of the duo's hugely successful television series.