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Tales of the Unexpected
S3.E6
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  • Cast & crew
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IMDbPro

Parson's Pleasure

  • Episode aired Nov 30, 1980
  • TV-14
  • 27m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
299
YOUR RATING
Godfrey James, Harry Jones, and Bernard Miles in Tales of the Unexpected (1979)
ComedyDramaHorrorMysteryThriller

'Parson' Cyril Boggis has a method of getting antiques on the cheap. - Maybe too cheap.'Parson' Cyril Boggis has a method of getting antiques on the cheap. - Maybe too cheap.'Parson' Cyril Boggis has a method of getting antiques on the cheap. - Maybe too cheap.

  • Director
    • John Bruce
  • Writers
    • Roald Dahl
    • Ronald Harwood
  • Stars
    • Roald Dahl
    • John Gielgud
    • Bernard Miles
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.1/10
    299
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Bruce
    • Writers
      • Roald Dahl
      • Ronald Harwood
    • Stars
      • Roald Dahl
      • John Gielgud
      • Bernard Miles
    • 7User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos53

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    Top cast9

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    Roald Dahl
    Roald Dahl
    • Self - Introduced by
    John Gielgud
    John Gielgud
    • Cyril Boggis
    Bernard Miles
    Bernard Miles
    • Mr. Rummins
    Lee Montague
    Lee Montague
    • Mr. Storker
    Godfrey James
    Godfrey James
    • Claud
    Harry Jones
    • Bert Rummins
    Irlin Hall
    • County Lady
    Roger Milner
    • Mr. Hawkins
    Virginia Clay
    • Housekeeper
    • Director
      • John Bruce
    • Writers
      • Roald Dahl
      • Ronald Harwood
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews7

    7.1299
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    Featured reviews

    searchanddestroy-1

    And my pleasure too

    Another exquisite and delightful British story, set in this cosy UK countryside, bringing a very cosy atmosphere too, thanks to the music, that contributes much to emphasize this feeling. The story is very simple, easy to follow, very light hearted too and not predictable at all. Very unexpected tale indeed. I really like it, and the ending will offer you a good surprise. Perfect time - not waster - spender for the whole family. No murder, no blood, not even suspense, only this unmatched atmosphere and acting. If you crave for British stuff, this is it actually. Just sit down and enjoy, you won't regret it.
    7didi-5

    a fun twist to a well-acted tale

    Cyril Boggis, antiques dealer (John Gielgud), is more than a bit crooked and is always on the hunt for a bargain, under the guise of 'The Society for the Preservation of Rare Furniture' and a clergyman's collar.

    With his plummy accent and bearing he's never going to cause suspicion, and we see him charm his way through country houses until one day he meets a farmer, Mr Rummins (Bernard Miles), who has something a bit unexpected hiding under his ferret cage.

    This episode is great fun and beautifully acted by the two theatrical knights, and has a satisfying twist even if you can see it coming quite a few minutes before. One of the better Tales in the series and well worth a look.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      John Gielgud had previously appeared in S1 E6, Neck (1979).
    • Quotes

      [first lines]

      Roald Dahl: This story is about a knocker and a commode. You'll find out what a knocker is as the story goes along. But a commode, in the meantime, is an old English word for a chest of drawers. Now an absolutely top quality Chippendale commode is an immense rarity. Only three of these beauties have turned up at auction in a century. And all of them came out of big, English country houses. They fetched astronomical prices. And ever since then, it has been the ambition of every dealer and collector to find yet another of these great Chippendale commodes. Now watch the story.

    • Crazy credits
      Voiceover disclaimer over end-credits: "We have been requested by the London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association to make it clear to viewers that the use of their symbol, shown in the window of the fictional antique dealer in this programme, was in no way intended to imply that the Association condones certain dishonest practices of the antique dealer which were portrayed in this fictional story".
    • Connections
      Version of Thirty-Minute Theatre: Parson's Pleasure (1965)
    • Soundtracks
      Lead Us, Heavenly Father
      (uncredited)

      By James Edmeston

      Performed by John Gielgud

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 30, 1980 (United Kingdom)
    • Language
      • English
    • Production company
      • Anglia Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 27m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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