The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball (1987)
When the British Amnesty shows finally resumed in 1987 after a six-year hiatus, the show format was retooled in an effort to take advantage of the growing number of rock musicians supporting Amnesty. Instead of the live show being primarily a comedy show with a few musical cameos, the event made a point of giving equal emphasis to the comedy and the music.
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Reviews
This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.
Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.
Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.
Blistering performances.
I have seen the Secret Policeman films billed as "Monty Python" films, but none of them featured all the troop. The first had most, the second only a couple and this one was no better. In fact, John Cleese (the brains and driving force behind the first concert) was only on hand for a 'guest appearance'. Overall, instead of a focus on comedy (like the initial Secret Policemen performances), this one is mostly on pop music--with mostly lesser comedians to provide the secondary focus. Now the comedy isn't completely bad--it's nice to see Lenny Henry, Ben Elton, Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie when they were younger. But this is mostly NOT their 'A-material'. And some of the comedy consists of unfunny interviews by Ruby Wax of the musicians--as, I said before, the focus really is on the music. But, if you are NOT there to hear Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins, Bob Geldoff, Lou Reed and the rest of the musicians, some highlights of the comedy include a neat skit where Henry impersonates a blind blues musician. And, to put some perspective on how unfunny the rest is, Emo Philips is among the funnier acts. But, with him, Knopfler and the rest, you will no doubt recognize that this British production is almost equally American this time. And, as a result of all the changes, it hardly seems to be a descendant from the first Amnesty benefit film. Overall, a bit better than the last film in the series but not much....