''God Rot Tunbridge Wells!'' is a 1985 British

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film Musical film is a film genre in which songs by the Character (arts), charac ...

television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

directed by Tony Palmer, written by

John Osborne John James Osborne (12 December 1929 – 24 December 1994) was an English playwright, screenwriter, actor, and entrepreneur, who is regarded as one of the most influential figures in post-war theatre. Born in London, he briefly worked as a jo ...

and starring

Trevor Howard Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith (29 September 1913 – 7 January 1988) was an English stage and screen actor. After varied work in the theatre, he achieved leading man star status in the film '' Brief Encounter'' (1945), followed by '' The Third M ...

, Christopher Bramwell and Dave Griffiths. It was aired on

Channel 4 Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television channel owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation. It is state-owned enterprise, publicly owned but, unlike the BBC, it receives no public funding and is funded en ...

in 1985 and was made to mark the 300th anniversary of Handel's birth.

Plot

In his old age in London, the German composer

George Frideric Handel George Frideric (or Frederick) Handel ( ; baptised , ; 23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was a German-British Baroque composer well-known for his operas, oratorios, anthems, concerti grossi, and organ concerti. Born in Halle, Germany, H ...

reflects over his life and musical career.

Cast

– Elderly Handel * Christopher Bramwell – Young Handel * Dave Griffiths – Handel in middle age * Isabella Connell – Princess of Wales * Anne Downie – Vittoria Tarquini * Beth Robens – Handel's Mother * Simon Donald – Prince Ruspoli

Music

Musical excerpts used are: * Messiah (I know that my redeemer liveth) - Elizabeth Harwood, (But who may abide) - Emma Kirkby * Xerxes (Ombra mai fu) - James Bowman * Acis and Galatea (Oh happy we) Valerie Masterson, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson * Judas Maccabæus (See the conquering hero) Judith Howarth, Lynn Anderson * Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne (Let envy the conceal her head) - John Shirley-Quirk * Concerto for organ opus 7 No.5 - Simon Preston * Suite for keyboard no. 7, HWV 432 (Passacaglia) - Andrei Gavrilov * Excerpts from the Music for the Royal Fireworks,

Water Music The ''Water Music'' (German: ''Wassermusik'') is a collection of orchestral movements, often published as three Suite (music), suites, composed by George Frideric Handel. It premiered on 17 July 1717, in response to George I of Great Britain, ...

, and

The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba "The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba", also known as "The Entrance of the Queen of Sheba" and "The Entry of the Queen of Sheba", is the sinfonia that opens Act III of George Frideric Handel's 1749 oratorio ''Solomon''. It is marked ''allegro'' and ...

played by the

English Chamber Orchestra The English Chamber Orchestra (ECO) is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and their ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall. With a limited performance size, the orchestra spe ...

, Charles Mackerras

Locations

The film was shot for free at the Earl of Oxford and Asquith's house (for Brook Street, London),

Chatsworth House Chatsworth House is a stately home in the Derbyshire Dales, north-east of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield, Derbyshire, Chesterfield, England. The seat of the Duke of Devonshire, it has belonged to the House of Cavendish, Cavendish family si ...

for a banquet scene, Drumlanrig Castle for a grand house visited by the boy Handel, as well as other homes of English aristocracy. Palmer commented that "I had a million dollars worth of locations, and all for 3/6d".God Rot Tunbridge Wells - a tale of woe and bloody-minded persistence. Booklet essay by Tony Palmer accompanying DVD TPDVD114 (2008).

References

External links

* 1985 television films 1985 films British biographical films Channel 4 original programming Films about classical music and musicians Films about composers Films directed by Tony Palmer Films set in the 18th century George Frideric Handel in fiction Cultural depictions of George Frideric Handel 1980s English-language films 1980s British films British musical television films {{bio-film-stub