THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT [1975 / 2017] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
The Acclaimed BAFTA Award Winning Drama, Newly Restored in HD!
The BAFTA Award winning adaptation of Quentin Crisp’s best-selling autobiography, ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ features an arguably career-best performance by John Hurt as Quentin Crisp a flamboyant homosexual trying to live an openly gay lifestyle in the intolerant pre-war years.
Funny, tragic and, at times, heart-warming, this unflinching story of an unconventional man is strongly directed by the multi-award-winning Jack Gold. It is featured here for the first time in a brand-new High Definition restoration from the original film elements, in its original full-screen 1.37:1 aspect ratio and also now in a brand-new 1.78:1 aspect ratio widescreen version.
FILM FACT No.1: Awards and Nominations: 1976 BAFTA TV Awards: Win: Best Actor for John Hurt. Nominated: Best Single Play for Jack Gold. 1976 Broadcasting Press Guild Awards: Win: Best Single Documentary. 1976 Prix Italia: Win: Best Drama.
FILM FACT No.2: In 2009, Hurt reprised the role of Quentin Crisp in “An Englishman in New York,” which covered the latter years of Quentin Crisp's life spent in Manhattan.
Cast: John Hurt, Liz Gebhardt, Patricia Hodge, Stanley Lebor, Katherine Schofield, Colin Higgins, John Rhys-Davies, Stephen Johnstone, Antonia Pemberton, Lloyd Lamble, Joan Ryan, Frank Forsyth, Shane Briant, Ron Pember, Roger Lloyd Pack, Adrian Shergold, Derek West, David Fielder, Dennis Chinnery, John Flanagan, David Goodland, Dennis Blanch, Billy Colvill, Anthony Heaton, Richie Stewart, Jiggy Bhore, Graham Armitage, James Marcus, John Malcolm, Michael Bangerter, Julian Fox, Barry McGinn, Jan Chappell, John Forbes-Robertson, Frederick Treves, Anthony Howard, Annette Badland, Anna Wing, Dominic Allan, John Crocker, Richard Butler, John Cater, Harvey Ashby, Don Fellows, Bob Sherman, Susan Wooldridge, Christopher Coll, Peter Sproule, Robert Gary, Charles Pemberton, David Trevena, Martin Boddey, Ernest C. Jennings, Phil Daniels, Raymond Boal, Duncan Faber, James Hall, Alex Leppard, Peter Walshe, Michael Watkins and Quentin Crisp (Himself/Introduction)
Director: Jack Gold
Producers: Barry Hanson and Verity Lambert
Screenplay: Philip Mackie (screenplay) and Quentin Crisp (autobiography)
Composer: Carl Davis
Cinematography: Mike Fash (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080i
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1 and 1.78:1
Audio: English: 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio
English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 78 minutes and 77 minutes
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Thames Television / Network
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: Originally broadcast on British TV for Thames Television in 1975, ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ was the compelling drama that boasts a career-best performance by the late John Hurt as Quentin Crisp that won John Hurt his first Best Actor BAFTA award. It tells the remarkable true story of Quentin Crisp, who was a flamboyant south London engineer’s tracer turned artist’s model living an openly gay lifestyle during the intolerant pre-war years, where he proudly challenges the authorities that seek to suppress him, as well as his kind and he openly self-proclaimed that he was England’s Stately Homo, who lived an openly homosexual lifestyle from the 1930s in London at a time when it was a criminal offence.
‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ is a blackly comic genre, poignant and yet also life-affirming, of this courageous story about a very unconventional British eccentric is masterfully directed by Jack Gold, from a screenplay by Philip Mackie and executive producer. It also boasts of some colourful turns from the likes of Shane Briant as a cross dressing male prostitute called Norma, and Patricia as an Isadora Duncan-styled ballet teacher, and an equally impressive performance from Roger Lloyd Pack as Liz, which is even more surprising as with his later brilliant appearance in his role as the simple-minded road sweeper Colin 'Trigger' Ball in the brilliant BBC TV comedy sitcom ‘Only Fools and Horses’ [1981] which sees him in a character that is so removed from his character in ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT,’ there is also early acting roles for John Rhys-Davies. But of course the kudos goes to Stanley Lebor as the tragic Mr. Pole and his descent into madness will have some of you probably reaching for some Kleenex tissues.
Following his openly flamboyant life through the haunts of Belgravia, Chelsea and Soho, it brings us into the 1970s, where Quentin Crisp’s best-selling autobiography, “The Naked Civil Servant” forms the basis for Philip Mackie’s brilliant script for this highly acclaimed TV film drama. It received the BAFTA award and nominated for best Single TV Drama and winning the prestigious Prix Italia Award, and ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ provides John Hurt with a career-defining performance and it gave Quentin Crisp a celebrity status that saw him perform one-man shows and take small acting roles including in Sally Potter’s ‘Orlando’ [1992] film.
John Hurt’s much-admired but rather theatrical central performance portrayal of Quentin Crisp is a very entertaining watch and very convincing in its own right and also a very convincing performance all round and a brilliant exercise in studied mimicry. But his campy musical delivers often obscures the dry irony of Quentin Crisp’s prose with dialogue that has a very acerbic biting edge to great effect. This also helps to give subtle integrity to John Hurt’s brilliant award winning performance and also brings out every part he plays to give the character the depth and the emotional core that is helped by the brilliant director Jack Gold. ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ is often considered one of the best British TV films ever produced, and rightly so. It is a rich and vibrant portrait of a unique and extraordinary gay character. I also feel the most pivotal and best moment in the TV film was right near the end where one night Quentin Crisp [John Hurt] had to spend the night in Portsmouth, that is the port city and naval base on England’s south coast, mostly spread across Portsea Island, and Quentin decided to have a walk along the front, where Quentin was immediately and suddenly surrounded by five jolly sailors, and Quentin Crisp says that it was the first, last and only time that he has ever been in a crowd of people where he was the centre of attention, without feeling that he felt he was in danger. Nothing sexual happened, nothing was going to happen, it was always something Quentin Crisp longed for and never elsewhere found, a flirtation, an evening’s entertainment and that is what you get by viewing this Blu-ray disc of ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT.’
During his abortive trial of Quentin Crisp, the actor John Hurt utters the following prophetic words: “My appearance sets me apart from the rest of humanity. It is not easy for me to make human contact – with strangers it is almost impossible. I learnt many years ago the golden rule of my life: In public places I do not speak to anyone if they do not speak to me, I do not look at anyone unless they demand that I look at them and that is the only way I know of getting safely to my destination,” and it is one of the few moments in the film played straight, without irony, and John Hurt imbues the character with a quietly tragic humanity that he has so far lacked. In one short speech he says more about the detrimental effects of conformity and prejudice than in the whole of the rest of the film put together.
‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ was one of the most significant LGBT British-made TV dramas of all time, and Thames Television production gave John Hurt his first Best Actor BAFTA® award and turned Quentin Crisp into an instant international celebrity and a veritable gay icon. The self-proclaimed “Stately Homo” was hailed as a modern-day Oscar Wilde due to his aphoristic witticisms which led him into creating a successful one-man show and publishing further works including his 1996’s “Resident Alien,” which inspired the ‘An Englishman in New York’ in 2009, and starred John Hurt.
Executive produced by Verity Lambert [‘Doctor Who’] and directed by Jack Gold’s ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ was voted fourth in British Film Institute’s Top 100 TV programmes of the 20th Century, and the TV film has been justifiably fully restored in 1080i high-definition from the original film negative elements and still retains its power and social relevance even today, particularly in the year that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Sexual Offences Act in the United Kingdom.
John Hurt's unforgettable performance as Quinten Crisp won him a great deal of plaudits and also director Jack Gold for his outstanding creative contribution to television. Credit for the film's success must also go to screenwriter Philip Mackie and producer Verity Lambert. Perhaps the highest praise is Quentin Crisp's christening of John Hurt as his "representative on earth." John Hurt would play Quinten Crisp once more in another film, the semi-documentary ‘Resident Alien’ [1990]. This is no shiny, romantic period drama, because the production refuses to glamorise events and uses a muted palate of colours to drive home the harsh realities of Quinten Crisp's life. The story is episodic, and basically a series of incidents charting Quinten Crisp's progression from his initial self-discovery, but of course his natural wit and unique perspective on life makes this special television film hilarious and very poignant view of someone was known as England’s “Stately Homo.” Sadly Quentin Crisp passed away in 1999 at the age of 91.
One thing that has really angered me is the fact that when ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ premiered in 1975 on PBS in North America, it created a massive furore with viewers threatening to yank their support. Because as far as I am concerned it was a film that was so ahead of its time about a man even more ahead of his time and just shows you how narrowed minded the majority of Americans are in being intolerant religious bigots. On top of all that John Hurt's portrayal of Quentin Crisp is nothing less than superb as he fights back against society's intolerance, ostracism and violence with pointed, razor-sharp humour. Quentin Crisp’s outlandish behaviour shocked the intolerant pre-WWII British society and provoked frequent homophobic attacks, but Quinton Crisp staunchly refused to compromise his gay lifestyle and went on to become a cult celebrity and an international gay icon, and definitely a 20th-Century Oscar Wilde. One small negative aspect of this Thames Television TV film, is that the Network organisation have kept in the advert break titles in with the 1.37:1 aspect ratio version, surely these should have been edited out, especially as with the 1.78:1 aspect ratio TV film the advert break titles have been removed and I feel that this is not a very professional attitude, but I suspect the Network organisation will have a totally opposite attitude and excuse why the ad break titles were kept in. Still I suppose one good thing about these two aspect ratio versions; you have that choice in which one you would prefer to view.
Blu-ray Image Quality – Thames Television and the Network Company has brought us a 1080i encoded image transfer to bring you this TV film as one of the healthier-resourced TV productions of its day, benefitting from being shot entirely on location with 16mm film. Jack Gold’s direction is ambitious and inventive, often shooting low to demonstrate a real sense of location in interior scenes. A wealth of exterior tracking shots and movie-style lighting further demonstrate how much investment was made in securing a cinematic feel to the photography. This latest Blu-ray release from Network is an astonishing image transfer from the original elements, which has now been digitally restored via a ARRI-scanned 2K resolution from the 16mm original A+B negative film and restored in its correct broadcast 1.37:1 aspect ratio as well as in a new 1.78:1 aspect ratio widescreen version, offering a previously unseen clarity and richness of colour. Network has drawn an incredible amount of detail from the archive holdings of this presentation which is testament to the clarity which can be recovered from a 16mm film source. This restoration involved automated and manual removal of film defects and correction of any major damage and instability, creating an image that has been fully colour corrected. The new transfer showcases Jack Gold’s direction and photography. A seminal production for the small screen, the film remains timelessly effective in its message of liberty and pride, and it has never looked better in a restoration worthy of big-screen presentation. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Thames Television and the Network Company has come together to bring us the original 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio soundtrack that is amazingly crisp, clean and clear. Carl Davies’s film music score also capitalises on a sort of stylised silent movie tableaux, evoking upbeat jazz brass and a celebratory marching band ensemble, often counterpointing scenes of violence and tragedy with a bombastic optimism. Aptly, Carl Davies would go on to successfully produce numerous film music scores for Charlie Chaplin short films via several special DVD releases. So all in all Carl Davies always evokes the style of music that is so apt for ever project that that this brilliant artistic composer embarks on and is definitely the master, especially for any Television project and definitely for the brilliant ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT.’
Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: This Blu-ray also features the film version that is presented in the full 1.78:1 aspect ratio with the ad break titled cards removed and is offering an alternative way of viewing this special THAMES television film.
Audio Commentary with actor John Hurt, director Jack Gold and executive producer Verity Lambert: Here we are introduced first to actor John Hurt who informs us he played Quentin Crisp, next up is Jack Gold the director of the TV film and finally to introduce them self is Verity lambert who was controller of drama at the time when the TV film was made. Jack Gold informs us that filming Quentin Crisp at the start of the film was very worrying, especially coming from the point of John Hurt playing the character, because John Hurt informs us that reason for this concern was the fact the actor David Warner made a negative comment that he felt seeing Quentin Crisp at the start of the film would not think John Hurt was playing the part of Quentin Crisp, which John Hurt said was a very silly negative comment and Jack Gold made a comment that if we did not see the real Quentin Crisp at the start of the film, we would not be able to characterise the performance of Quentin Crisp with the actor John Hurt and we also not be able to accept it as reality, which of course is total nonsense and Verity Lambert agreed, and also felt that was absolutely right, and also felt David Warner’s comment was totally wrong, and I agree with that 100%, and I felt David Warner’s comment was totally foolish and misguided, as having John Hurt play the real Quentin Crisp was the right decision and is totally perfect and of course people would realise that John Hurt was only portraying the character of Quentin Crisp and as well as his mannerisms, as well as some of his speech patterns. Verity lambert comments on the beautiful image of the little boy in front of the mirror at the start of the TV film and felt it was totally perfect in showing a young Quentin Crisp. Jack Gold also praises the script and that is was so economical and stylish, that it made it so easy to make the TV film. Jack Gold also mentions the first real black-and-white caption that appears and because of its explicit sexual wording, the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA), that was officially dissolved in 2003, wanted it removed, but they stuck by their principle and Jack Gold won his cause and it stayed in the TV film and if you want to know what the wording is, then you will have to view the brilliant ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT.’ Later on in the film where Quentin Crisp [John Hurt] enlists in the Army, well the scene where the two Army Officers have to examine his rear, again the IBA wanted that scene removed and again Jack Gold refused and threatened to take his name off the credits, and again the IBA caved in. jack Gold also praises Quentin Crisp when he was around for the filming and felt he was a great rock and supported of the TV film and would only comment if he was asked certain questions how camp a person had to act should be filmed, as Jack Gold at the time was very naïve about the gay scene in the 1930s era. They all talk about the wonderful cinematography of Mike Fash, who had never ever filmed a TV drama like this one and especially for Thames Television, as they were not really known for a full length drama, especially reflecting on the gay scene of that period. They all make wonderful comments about the black-and-white Art Nouveau captions throughout the TV film and feel they encapsulate the whole theme of the TV film and its period and make their point quite succinct in a very neat way, as well as making comments about the wonderful composer Carl Davis use of brilliant music with the flowery typeface and is completely in harmony in projecting a theme. John Hurt comments that they only had seven days rehearsal time and in that time they packed in a great deal and filmed in tableau as it was written in the Quentin Crisp’s autobiography, and the whole TV film was shot in 21 days. They also mention that when the TV film was broadcast on the 17th December, 1975, they received a deluge of mail praising the TV film and to some of the correspondence it changed their lives, but out of the thousands of correspondence, they only received three letter of complaint, which all three commentators felt very well satisfied that they had made something totally unique and satisfying and that it also made a difference for the British psyche and attitude towards gays, as well as making a difference to society in general, as well as making something very entertaining and also showing certain heroes who were prepared to stand up to society and be counted, as well as touched the audiences and also being totally empathised with humanity. When you see John Hurt in full drag on the London bus with “Thumbnails,” John Hurt informs us that his wife informed him that was her favourite scene in the TV film. They all talk about all of the performances of all the people that appeared in the TV film especially with John Hurt and they all felt everyone performances were really good and in fact no one turned down their part in the TV film, especially as the scenario had a gay theme. John Hurt also said that the read through was electrifying, although also felt very frightening at the start of the read through, but in the end they all knew instantly that they were going to perform in something totally wonderful, and they also knew it was something they all wanted to make, and verity lambert felt personally it was one of the best script she had ever read and the others also felt that when they read the script they could easily imagine in their mind what it was going to look like when people viewed the TV film. John Hurt says that one of the major question he is always being asked in interviews, is what has been your favourite thing you have ever been in, and John always replies, ‘The Naked Civil Servant’ and being Quentin Crisp, because it changed the public’s perception and the business perception about the gay lifestyle in the United Kingdom, but more so it was a joyous occasion and brilliant experience from the beginning to the end. Again all three harked back to how the TV film changed people’s lives and one director told Jack Gold that when he was 15 years of age and living with his parents, all of them watch ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ and at that point in time came out to his parents. When we get to the army recruiting scene, they all rave about the wonderful words that John Hurt says from the wonderful script that was written by Philip Mackie and the words were so succinct and to the point, especially the very funny in showing off Quentin Crisp at his best. When we get to the dramatic court scene, which we were informed was filmed in one of The Law Courts in Windsor and on the day of the filming it was smack bang in the flight path of Heathrow London Airport, and when John Hurt does his wonderful speeches, especially towards the judge, John had to do some scenes 20 times because of aircraft flying over the court building, but despite this inconvenience, they all agreed that John Hurt’s performance in the dock was a totally superb performance and sort of summed up the style of the TV film. As you know Quentin Crisp hated cleaning, as he felt after four years the dust doesn’t get any worse and we find out that when Quentin Crisp made great success and money from his celebrity status, his small apartment in New York had the same non cleaning regime. One day John Hurt spoke to Quentin Crisp with trepidation when they showed the TV film on a big cinema screen, and asked Quentin what did he think of what he had viewed, well with Quentin Crisp’s usual barbed wit replied, “Well, it was much better than real life, because it was much shorter.” The scene near the end of the TV film where the five jolly sailors flirt with John Hurt, well jack Gold wanted to film on location in Portsmouth, but realised it was too far away, especially with a very limited budget, so then he thought of filming it in London’s Dockland area, but eventually had to compromise the filming schedule and ended up in a small commercial studio, because that way they could control the situation, and all of them says it was one of the best and favourite scene in the whole of the TV film and I agree 100%, because it is also one of my favourite scene also that really stood out for me and also made a great impression on everyone who viewed this TV film for the very first time when it was broadcast on the 17th December, 1975. As we come to the end of the TV film, we see John Hurt as the elderly Quentin Crisp walking through Kensington Palace gardens in London, and John Hurt informs us that with that particular filming sequence of him walking through the park, was filmed with a 600mm lens and all the people walking past John Hurt were just ordinary people and not extras and John noticed that did not take any notice of him as Quentin Crisp, because there were no camera crew around to distract everyone in shooting that final scene in the TV film. As the end credits appear, Barry Gold wished he could of filmed the ending slightly different, especially if shot today and given it a very different ending. But in the end all three says it was a very enjoyable experience and also very honoured to have been involved with the TV film, because it is a wonderful legacy it has left for future generations and now has been preserved for posterity on this brilliant Blu-ray disc.
Special Feature: World In Action: SEVEN MEN: Quentin Crisp [1971] [480i] [1.37:1] [25:40] This special Documentary profiles Quentin Crisp and is the programme that catalysed the eventual filming of his autobiography and was for the British TV show “World In Action.” Filmed for Granada Television and giving us a very personal view of Quentin Crisp in his small very dusty Chelsea flat. By combining footage from several different days, Quintin Crisp remembers and talks about different aspects of his life. This particular interview is frustratingly short, but features Quentin Crisp as a characteristically frank interviewee, politely indulging the occasional stupid question and ruminating articulately over subjects ranging from love and death to how he manages to get by on less than £12 a week. In the short amount of time available, we get a glimpse of a sharp, erudite and complex man that in part reveals the shortcomings and limitations of Jack Gold's film portrait with John Hurt playing his character. This is a very candid insight into the man’s life present and past, and the documentary evidences the impeccable accuracy of ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ production design in capturing Quentin Crisp’s unconventional housekeeping. This was a Granada Television/World In Action Production.
Special Feature: Mavis Catches Up with Quentin Crisp [1989] [480i] [1.37:1] [25:26] Here we have an exclusive interview with Quentin Crisp in New York. The talk show interview was hosted by Ms. Mavis Nicholson conducting a follow-up interview for Thames Television and the Ms. Mavis Nicholson interview is intercut with the 1979 retrospective interview. The 1989 interview is eloquent and interesting, and Ms. Mavis Nicholson is a conscientious interviewer who draws fascinating answers from Quentin Crisp. It is clear they are fond of each other’s company and this well-produced interview programme serves to highlight the true lack of quality interviews on television today. Although snippets from the first interview are included as part of the new interview programme, but it is sadly not included on this Blu-ray disc in its entirety. Presumably the original tape is no longer available in the archives and it is also a pity that other surviving 1979 footage of Quentin Crisp has not been archived to provide a more comprehensive archive reflection. This was a Thames Television Production.
Special Feature: Image Gallery [2017] [1080p] [1.78:1] [1:36] Here you get to view 32 stunning Black-and-White and Colour images of some scenes from the film and promotional photographs and there is no background music.
Special Feature: Philip Mackie’s Original Script [PDF format] [Portable Document Format]: This is a file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. PDF files are created using Adobe Acrobat, Acrobat Capture, or similar products. To view and use the files, you need the free Acrobat Reader, which you can easily download. Once you've downloaded the Reader, it will start automatically whenever you want to look at a PDF file. PDF files are especially useful for documents such as magazine articles, product brochures, or flyers in which you want to preserve the original graphic appearance online. A PDF file contains one or more page images, each of which you can zoom in on or out from. You can page forward and backward.
Finally, the THAMES TV film ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ [1975] gave the late great actor John Hurt the hard role of his acting career in portraying a lead character that some people thought was not altogether likable, but luckily John Hurt manages to give a totally magical and fascinating performance nonetheless. The rest of the cast are totally solid, but ultimately exists in John Hurt's shadow. The script also does an absolutely brilliant job in showcasing many of Quinton Crisp's witty statements and presenting his very droll and some might say cynical perspective on humanity. Ultimately, this is an entirely intriguing and worthwhile TV film presentation for anyone with an interest in historical gay individuals or anyone who was around in that period. This Thames Television TV film special is totally poignant, tragic, intelligent, and witty, and at time often totally hilarious, and ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT’ is a must-see, must-own Blu-ray disc jewel of drama and cultural historical film. When John Hurt died we lost a true legend of film, and an actor loved by both young and old. Some knew him for his role as Kane in Alien, John Merrick in ‘The Elephant Man,’ and even Doctor Who. Perhaps his most daring role though was as Quentin Crisp, in the brilliant ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT.’ Because of the Network organisation have been brave to release the Blu-ray disc of ‘THE NAKED CIVIL SERVANT,’ I wish they would now release ‘An Englishman in New York’ [2009] which was a biographical film that chronicles the years gay English writer Quentin Crisp spent in New York City, starring John Hurt reprising his role as the flamboyant raconteur and gay icon, Quentin Crisp, where he was embraced by celebrities and artists alike to great enthusiasm. Very Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
