That was an excellent one.

Thanks for the memories!

Excellent but underrated film

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

I've recently finished reading Michael Palin's second set of diaries ("Halfway to Hollywood"), which includes sections covering the real-time writing and filming of this particular film and so was pleased to get the chance to view it.It's a pleasantly diverting comedy taking gentle pot-shots at snobbery, the English class system, the church and as the title makes clear, the Edwardian outlook on sex, peopled by a top-drawer British cast in very good form.Palin himself takes the lead part and if lacking a little in the masculine virility I think the part calls for, nonetheless masters as you'd expect the comic delivery for which he's well regarded. To be fair, he is definitely outshone by his co-lead, Maggie Smith, as the repressed wife of a titled benefactor, late of the street herself as Smith herself relates to us in a disarming Cockney accent near the end. Michael Hordern does a hilarious little cameo as a befuddled butler, likewise Denholm Elliott as a "sporty" bishop and Trevor Howard as the frightfully frightfully titled patron-husband of Smith. I also liked Phoebe Nicholl's little turn as Palin's dim and virginal intended bride with a penchant for cataloguing. Some of the characters do, however, seem like leftovers from Palin's wonderful "Ripping Yarns" series and occasionally the film does veer off the track a little too much into farce territory with the ending tapering off somewhat, but with Palin the writer often employing the familiar trick of finishing scenes with amusing jokes, he just about keeps the film on an even keel for its not overlong playing time.As for the direction, I did find the lighting a little gloomy at times and I suppose lack of budget could have been slightly to blame for not quite delivering a convincing depiction of the squalid streets of London where Palin looks to lift up his fallen women (in the Gladstonian sense of the phrase, naturally).On the whole though, a likable, at times highly amusing light comedy rather making me sad a little that Michael later got lost on his worldly travels (entertaining as they've been), at the expense of his writing and acting skills.

Fun dry comedy by Python writer Michael Palin, who also stars as a missionary sent to the slums of England to minister to prostitutes. He's stuck in a silly traditional courtship with the fetching but anal retentive Deborah (Phoebe Nicholls) and a bizarre romance of a totally different nature with the wealthy Lady Isabel Ames (Maggie Smith).Of course the best parts of the movie are the ones that let Smith and Palin play off each other, and they're both such wonderful talents that it's enough to carry some parts of the film that seem a bit obvious. There are some good supporting performances too, especially Denholm Elliot as a bishop with rather earthly tastes who nevertheless disproves of Palin's methods in spreading the "good word" to the various fallen women.I rarely found myself laughing out loud, but I did greatly enjoy the movie. It was pleasant to watch, doesn't really offer that much in the way of gags but also isn't very demanding in general to watch. I found myself really hoping that there are more movies like this with Maggie Smith, and I've always been a fan of Palin so it was quite an enjoyable film for me.

I won't detail the plot as that's been covered rather extensively in the other comments. If you refrain from expecting a Monty Python movie, you'll find it much easier to enjoy The Missionary. It's not a Python movie. It's not outrageously funny though it does have some very funny moments, some hilarious. Most of the humor however is much more subtle, possibly too much so for many viewers. A great cast.

In England in 1906, a young reverend, with a sense of vocation and just before marriage, is entrusted to open a house of refuge for fallen ladies of East End. He is then seduced by the grateful girls and a witty, love-seeking lady nob, who is ready to support the institute.A fitfully amusing, crisply acted, often sophisticated period comedy whose central conception - prostitutes do what they do for pleasure - is slightly absurd to say the least. Most of its fun is provided by the garnish.