MesmeroWatch list, 0 saved

Movie
Poster for The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

1982 · 90 min

A genial filmed stage benefit, bouncing between silly sketches and earnest rock numbers, with the loose, uneven charm of a live charity gala.

Directed by
Julien Temple
Genres
Comedy, Music, Tv movie
Starring
Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Beck, Alan Bennett
Tagline
At Last the Truth Can Be Told - The Other Ball is Bigger
Overview
Following the success of the 1979 show and the financial benefits accruing to Amnesty from the spin-off movie, TV special and record albums – Cleese, Lewis and Walker planned the next show to be a more spectacular event. Cleese focused on broadening the comedic talent to be presented at the show. In addition to the Amnesty show stalwarts drawn from the Oxbridge/Monty Python/Beyond The Fringe orbit, he invited newcomers such as Rowan Atkinson’s colleagues from the BBC TV show Not the Nine O'Clock News including Pamela Stephenson and Griff Rhys Jones; comedian Victoria Wood and regional comic Jasper Carrott. Lewis secured a return appearance by Billy Connolly and a debut appearance by "alternative" comedian Alexei Sayle who Lewis had recently discovered and was managing. Building on the success of Pete Townshend's 1979 appearance Lewis recruited other rock musicians to perform at the 1981 show including Sting, Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Donovan and Bob Geldof.

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer

Add to a list: The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

You have no lists yet. Name one, and this title goes into it.

All your lists

In the UKNo streaming, rental or purchase options known.
Directed by
Julien Temple
Genres
Comedy, Music, Tv movie
Starring
Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Beck, Alan Bennett
In your watch list

How it feels

Written by AI. It can be wrong.

Tone
  • satiricalstrength 2 of 3
  • absurdstrength 2 of 3
  • earneststrength 2 of 3
  • lightstrength 1 of 3
Pacing
measured, 2 of 4, from slow-burn to relentless
Attention
engaged, 3 of 4, from background-friendly to demanding
Themes
  • politics
  • justice
  • freedom
  • media
  • art
Places
  • big city
Era
contemporary
Audience
adult
Form
  • ensemble
  • true story
  • musical
Content intensity
  • Gore none
  • Language mild
  • Violence none
  • Sex mild
All scales, 0 to 10
Scales, 0 to 10
ScaleValue0 to 10
Action1
Horror0
Humour8
Realism8
Romance1
Tension2
Darkness2
Complexity3
Emotional weight3

More like this

Titles like The Secret Policeman's Other Ball

TV series

The Secret Policeman's Ball

1976–2012

Watching a live benefit gala where famous comics trade sketches and songs, feeling both silly and quietly righteous.

Satirical, absurd · about politics and justice · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • politics
  • justice
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Seasons
1
Details
The Secret Policeman's BallHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Monty Python Live at the Hollywood Bowl

1982

A raucous, silly live show that feels like a chaotic party with clever wordplay and slapstick.

Satirical, absurd · about politics and media · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • politics
  • media
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
80 min
Details
Monty Python Live at the Hollywood BowlHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Monty Python Live (Mostly)

2014

A raucous, affectionate farewell gig that feels like a chaotic party with old friends, full of silly songs and nostalgic energy.

Satirical, absurd · about art · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • art
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
138 min
Details
Monty Python Live (Mostly)Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

This Is Spinal Tap

1984

A hilarious, affectionate send-up of rock stardom that feels like laughing with old friends at their absurd backstage antics.

Satirical, absurd · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
82 min
Details
This Is Spinal TapHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Monty Python's Flying Circus

1969–1974

A rapid-fire barrage of surreal, intellectual silliness that constantly subverts expectations and rewards close attention with delightfully absurd surprises.

Satirical, absurd · about politics and media

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • politics
  • media
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Seasons
4
Details
Monty Python's Flying CircusHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Monty Python’s Life of Brian

1979

A rapid-fire, irreverent comedy that mixes slapstick, wordplay, and surreal satire, leaving you laughing at the absurdity of belief and bureaucracy.

Satirical, absurd · about politics and media · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • politics
  • media
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
94 min
Details
Monty Python’s Life of BrianHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Monty Python's The Meaning of Life

1983

A chaotic, gleefully tasteless sketch revue that veers from slapstick to surreal, daring you to laugh at its sheer absurdity.

Satirical, absurd · musical

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • musical
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
107 min
Details
Monty Python's The Meaning of LifeHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

The Secret Policeman's Ball

2012

A lively, joke-packed charity gala that plays like a variety show, mixing stand-up, sketches and music with a feel-good activist spirit.

Satirical · about politics and justice · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • politics
  • justice
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
124 min
Details
The Secret Policeman's BallHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

Live 8

2005

A long, buoyant marathon of live performances that feels communal and hopeful, best taken in stretches rather than all at once.

Earnest · about politics and justice · ensemble

Via
  • earnest
  • politics
  • justice
  • ensemble
Pacing
measured
Attention
engaged
Runtime
540 min
Details
Live 8Hidden from your suggestions.
Movie

A Hard Day's Night

1964

A giddy, playful romp full of witty banter, slapstick chases, and infectious pop songs that captures the joyful chaos of fame.

Satirical · about freedom and media · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • freedom
  • media
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Runtime
88 min
Details
A Hard Day's NightHidden from your suggestions.
TV series

Omnibus Presents Comic Relief

1986

A scattershot night of live charity comedy sketches and music, more a time capsule of its era than a coherent watch.

Satirical, absurd · about politics and justice · ensemble

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • politics
  • justice
  • ensemble
Pacing
brisk
Attention
easy-watch
Seasons
1
Details
Omnibus Presents Comic ReliefHidden from your suggestions.
Movie

And Now for Something Completely Different

1971

A rapid-fire barrage of surreal sketches that keeps you laughing and guessing, with animation breaks and absurd twists.

Satirical, absurd · about media and art

Via
  • satirical
  • absurd
  • media
  • art
Pacing
brisk
Attention
engaged
Runtime
88 min
Details
And Now for Something Completely DifferentHidden from your suggestions.

Where to watch in the UK

No UK streaming, rental or purchase options are known.

Streaming data from JustWatch.TMDB

Details

Genres
comedy, music, tv movie
Directed by
Julien Temple
Written by
Terence Dackombe
Starring
Rowan Atkinson, Jeff Beck, Alan Bennett, Graham Chapman, Eric Clapton, John Cleese, Phil Collins, Billy Connolly
Cinematography
Oliver Stapleton
Runtime
90 min
Country
United Kingdom
Languages
English

TMDBIMDbLetterboxdWikipediaWikidata