God Rot Tunbridge Wells!
God Rot Tunbridge Wells! is a 1985 British musical television film directed by Tony Palmer, written by John Osborne and starring Trevor Howard, Christopher Bramwell and Dave Griffiths.[1] It was aired on Channel 4 in 1985 and was made to mark the 300th anniversary of Handel's birth.
Plot
[edit]In his old age in London, the German composer George Frideric Handel reflects over his life and musical career.
Cast
[edit]- Trevor Howard – Elderly Handel
- Christopher Bramwell – Young Handel
- Dave Griffiths – Handel in middle age
- Isabella Connell – Princess of Wales
- Anne Downie – Vittoria Tarquini
- Beth Robens – Handel's Mother
- Simon Donald – Prince Ruspoli
Music
[edit]Musical excerpts used are:[2]
- Messiah (I know that my redeemer liveth) - Elizabeth Harwood, (But who may abide) - Emma Kirkby
- Xerxes (Ombra mai fu) - James Bowman
- Acis and Galatea (Oh happy we) Valerie Masterson, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson
- Judas Maccabæus (See the conquering hero) Judith Howarth, Lynn Anderson
- Ode for the birthday of Queen Anne (Let envy the conceal her head) - John Shirley-Quirk
- Concerto for organ opus 7 No.5 - Simon Preston
- Suite for keyboard no. 7, HWV 432 (Passacaglia) - Andrei Gavrilov
- Excerpts from the Music for the Royal Fireworks, Water Music, and the Arrival of the Queen of Sheba played by the English Chamber Orchestra, Charles Mackerras
Locations
[edit]The film was shot for free at the Earl of Oxford and Asquith's house (for Brook Street, London), Chatsworth House for a banquet scene, Drumlanrig Castle for a grand house visited by the boy Handel, as well as other homes of English aristocracy. Palmer commented that "I had a million dollars worth of locations, and all for 3/6d".[3]
References
[edit]- ^ BFI.org
- ^ WorldCat entry for DVD of God rot Tunbridge Wells : the life of Georg Frederic Handel accessed 19 February 2024.
- ^ God Rot Tunbridge Wells - a tale of woe and bloody-minded persistence. Booklet essay by Tony Palmer accompanying DVD TPDVD114 (2008).
External links
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- 1985 television films
- 1985 films
- British biographical films
- Channel 4 original programming
- Films about classical music and musicians
- Films about composers
- Films directed by Tony Palmer
- Films set in the 18th century
- George Frideric Handel in fiction
- Cultural depictions of George Frideric Handel
- 1980s English-language films
- 1980s British films
- British musical television films
- British television film stubs
- Biographical film stubs