Five Go Mad in Dorset was the first of three Five Go Mad specials from the long-running series of The Comic Strip Presents... television comedy films. It first aired on the launch night of Channel 4 (2 November 1982), and was written by Peter Richardson and Pete Richens, and directed by Bob Spiers.
Plot
The film is a parody of Enid Blyton's Famous Five books, involving siblings Julian (Richardson), Dick (Adrian Edmondson) and Anne (Jennifer Saunders), and their cousin George (Dawn French) and her dog Timmy. The four children arrive on holiday at Uncle Quentin (Ronald Allen) and Aunt Fanny's home. Upon learning that Uncle Quentin has been kidnapped, the Five decide to spend several days on a cycling holiday in Dorset. After picnicking and reporting some criminals to the local police they celebrate by buying some cakes from a shopkeeper (Robbie Coltrane). At the shop, they encounter a rude but rich boy, Toby (Daniel Peacock), whom the children at first refuse to accept into their group due to his obnoxious behaviour and also their cliquish nature. Later, while camping, Toby is kidnapped. Coltrane later reappears, this time as a lecherous gypsy. The Five discover a secret passage into an abandoned castle, where they find Toby. They also find Uncle Quentin, who reveals his kidnapping was a hoax to cover his split from Aunt Fanny because of his homosexuality. The children call the police and Uncle Quentin is arrested.
Satirical themes
The special mocks and satirises aspects of Blyton's writing, most notably the dated sexism, racism and class snobbery of the Famous Five books (the Five make racist remarks about a porter at the railway station when they are picked up by Aunt Fanny, repeated remarks about Anne as a "proper little housewife") and the formula of the young adventurer genre (most notably kids overhearing criminals discuss their plans, which are portrayed as characters stating "blah blah blah" and key plot elements). There is also a running gag relating to the books' frequent mentions of the various feasts the Five indulge in while picnicking and dining. The film's phrase "lashings of ginger beer" became so well known that it is now often mistakenly attributed to Blyton herself, although it never appears in any of the Famous Five books. The film also makes overt references to bestiality in George (implying a sexual relationship of canine cunnilingus between her and Timmy) and overt references to the criminalisation of homosexuality in pre-1968 Britain.
Critical reception
The film was watched by 3.4 million viewers and drew several complaints for its sexual references and irreverent mockery of Blyton's work, although the broadcaster had obtained permission from Blyton's estate. Reviewing Channel 4's launch night for the Financial Times, Chris Dunkley wrote that it was a "deliciously accurate parody of Enid Blyton's mind-numbingly repetitive adventure stories", but compared it unfavourably to Ripping Yarns.
Production and filming locations
Jennifer Saunders recalls the production fondly in her 2013 autobiography, even though she had "terrible tonsillitis for some of the shoot". Peter Richardson had grown up in South Devon, so was familiar with the coastline and chose various filming locations. Saunders writes that much of the crew were members of Richardson’s family. She describes the shooting as "the happiest time", mainly because the cast could spend their daily expenses allowance at a pub. The arrival of the "children" was filmed at Staverton railway station, Devon. The castle was Berry Pomeroy Castle, and the village with the shop was Broadhembury.
Cast
Julian – Peter Richardson
Dick – Adrian Edmondson
George – Dawn French
Anne – Jennifer Saunders
Uncle Quentin – Ronald Allen
Aunt Fanny – Sandra Dorne
Toby Thurlow – Daniel Peacock
Shopkeeper / Gypsy – Robbie Coltrane
Dirty Dick – Ron Tarr
Fingers – Nosher Powell
Police Inspector – Raymond Francis
Sequels
Five Go Mad on Mescalin
A sequel, Five Go Mad on Mescalin, was produced for the second Comic Strip Presents... series in 1983. The plot, involving a pushy rich American with a spoiled son, is loosely based on Enid Blyton's Five on Finniston Farm (1960). It implies that the Five might have sympathised with Nazi Germany because the Nazis were not as "vulgar" as Americans.
Five Go to Rehab
The third in the series, Five Go to Rehab, was produced in 2012, and shown on Gold on 7 November. It received poor reviews.