The Great McGonagall
“"I am Queen Victoria, and I am very Big in England."”
Synopsis
In this high-camp farce, Goons legend Spike Milligan stars as William Topaz McGonagall, an unemployed Scottish weaver and aspiring poet laureate who falls in love with Queen Victoria - a brilliant cameo by Peter Sellers - and thereafter devotes his banal poetry to her. Though McGonagall's solicitations are rejected by the Queen, it doesn't stop the turgid prose, and pathos, from overflowing as McGonagall hilariously attempts to become the greatest poet in the land. The image of the bad poet, trapped by his romanticism and inspired by a muse with a tin ear, appealed mightily to Spike Milligan, and this cult British spoof features the Goons show maestro at his ridiculous, genre-defying best.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
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THE GREAT MCGONAGALL
Type: Trailer • Published 2009-09-24
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
Royal World Charity Premiere, London
Festival / Special Debut
August 15, 1975
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Joseph McGrath
- Screenplay & Story
- Joseph McGrath, Spike Milligan
- Original Score
- John Shakespeare, Derek Warne
- Original Title
- The Great McGonagall
- Country of Origin
- United Kingdom
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Joseph McGrath
Joseph McGrath, Spike Milligan
John Shakespeare, Derek Warne
Rusty Coppleman
David Hamilton-Grant, Peter Lamb, Kamal Pasha
Department Leadership Roster
Joseph McGrath
Director
Joseph McGrath
Screenplay
David Hamilton-Grant
Producer
Spike Milligan
Screenplay
Rusty Coppleman
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
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International Certification Matrix
Suitable only for 15 years and over.
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Great McGonagall
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Great McGonagall about?
In this high-camp farce, Goons legend Spike Milligan stars as William Topaz McGonagall, an unemployed Scottish weaver and aspiring poet laureate who falls in love with Queen Victoria - a brilliant cameo by Peter Sellers - and thereafter devotes his banal poetry to her. Though McGonagall's solicitations are rejected by the Queen, it doesn't stop the turgid prose, and pathos, from overflowing as McGonagall hilariously attempts to become the greatest poet in the land. The image of the bad poet, trapped by his romanticism and inspired by a muse with a tin ear, appealed mightily to Spike Milligan, and this cult British spoof features the Goons show maestro at his ridiculous, genre-defying best.
Who directed The Great McGonagall?
The Great McGonagall was directed by Joseph McGrath.
Who stars in The Great McGonagall?
The principal cast of The Great McGonagall includes Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Julia Foster, John Bluthal, Victor Spinetti.
When was The Great McGonagall released and how long is it?
The Great McGonagall was released in 1975 with a total runtime of 1h 25m.
Who composed the musical score for The Great McGonagall?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Great McGonagall was composed by John Shakespeare, Derek Warne.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Great McGonagall?
The Great McGonagall holds official age classifications: GB: 15 (Suitable only for 15 years and over.).