Rhona Tolchard

Of its time - potentially triggering in some respects, but still funny and with a suitably ridiculous plot that still nods to the narratives of the British Raj. The Brits are lampooned decisively and memorably in the ‘heroic last stand’ Residency scene, and stalwarts like Kenneth Williams, Joan Sims and Sid James are in vintage form throughout. I watched this just after 9/11 to escape from the horror and uncertainty of what the world had become, and it helped a lot to put the serious stuff aside for an afternoon. That is a tribute to the cast and the script, and an important reason to recognise the value of classic comedy.