Abigail's party
Abigail's party
Member's Rating
  • Currently 3.5/5} Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Rate this movie

0 1 2 3 4 5

Rent this DVD
Synopsis Cast & Crew Technical

Synopsis

Mike Leigh's brilliant satire about middle-class English consumerism and appearances, with Alison Steadman''s frightening performance as a frantic woman trying to orchestrate an important dinner party, which is interrupted by her husband''s untimely heart attack. In this situation, the "unbearable and hopeless fuse to create an explosion of incredible hilarity." Mike Leigh---Great Britain---1977---105 mins.

See More Like This  |  Review This Disc  |  Recommend to a Friend  |  Rent Me

Reviews of 'Abigail's party'

Write Your Own Online Review
3 Customer Reviews  |  See All Customer Reviews

Most Recent Reviews
Here is a list of the most recently submitted reviews for this movie.

  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
   | Mark#58

This was apparently a very popular episode of the series "Play for Today" and much of that was just not due to the quality of the production but because two of the three channels on the air were malfunctioning at the time. Here we are treated to middle-class British suburbia's viciousness is slowly revealed the more guests drink at a tiny little get together in the home of gadabout Beverly (Alison Steadman, spectacular) and eager and shifty Laurence (Tim Stern, edgy). New neighbors, dim bulb nurse Angela (Janine Duvitsky, wildly likable/borderline annoying) and former footballer Tony (a seething John Salthouse). The title of the show gets its name from the fact that recently divorced neighbor Susan (a stoic Harriet Reynolds) is letting her daughter Abigail have her first real party. So Sue seeks solace amidst her odd collection of neighbors. This reads like a play and in fact it was, but that's not a bad thing. While it would be easy to give Mike Leigh accolades for his script, apparently about 90% of this was improvised by this amazing group of actors who are all far from household names, but brilliant nonetheless. As the gin and rum flows, so too do the emotions -- mostly resentment and anger -- bubble to the top like a freshly popped bottle of Bolly. Steadman's portrayal of the bullying Beverly is truly an acting tour de force as she evolves from friendly and gregarious to judgey passive aggressive to a downright bully! The language she chooses and the use of a character's name over and over is really compelling ("Do you know what I mean, Ang?" "Come on, Sue, 'ave anotha!"). Honestly, I would say this is as every bit as good -- if not better -- than Albee's over-acclaimed "Virginia Woolf." A definite must-see for anybody who appreciates quality acting by quality actors. B+

I found this review:

  • Currently 1/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
   | JohnH#1

Thoroughly obnoxious peopte. If they are representative Britons I'd say that the EU is better off without them. Viva Brexit!

I found this review:

  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
   | Rachel#4

I've seen it a zillion times, and I am always struck afresh at the psychological insight the actors bring to the characters they portray.

I found this review: