Philip Herlihy

I adore this film. Having studied the play at college, I was thrilled to hear Kenneth Branagh had made a film of it - but when I learned it was a musical I was utterly disgusted, and simply didn't bother. Years later, I found a DVD in my local library, and vaguely thought "why not". I've loved it ever since. It's deeply silly, wonderfully colourful, superbly acted, and very much in the spirit of Shakespeare's silliest play - the Monty Python of its day. The music fits astonishingly well. I don't give a stuff what the "critics" think. I love this film to bits.

One of the best films I've seen in what's becoming a long life now. Dazzling, spellbinding, outrageous, witty, charming, funny, clever, inventive, imaginative, and almost overwhelming. Loses no impact on every repeated viewing. Sure, some people won't understand a moment of it - I do feel sorry for them.