Derek and Clive Get the Horn
Encyclopedia
Derek and Clive Get The Horn is a 1979 documentary that chronicles the recording of Peter Cook
and Dudley Moore's
1978 comedy album Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam
, their third and final outing featuring their controversial alter-egos Derek and Clive
, two foul-mouthed lavatory attendants who banter at length about their surreal day-to-day existences. The footage was shot in early September 1978.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
, who would later direct Highlander
, the film was intended for cinematic release, but in October 1980 the British Board of Film Classification
rejected it outright on the grounds of its sustained and excessive use of bad language
and blasphemy
. Cook instead chose to release the film straight to video, a format that was at the time unregulated, but this plan also ran into trouble when several hundred copies were impounded by "God's copper" James Anderton
of the Greater Manchester Police
, sending the small company behind the release spiralling into bankruptcy. Derek and Clive Get The Horn was finally granted an 18 certificate in 1993 and was released as a sell-through video by PolyGram
.
Peter Cook
Peter Edward Cook was an English satirist, writer and comedian. An extremely influential figure in modern British comedy, he is regarded as the leading light of the British satire boom of the 1960s. He has been described by Stephen Fry as "the funniest man who ever drew breath," although Cook's...
and Dudley Moore's
Dudley Moore
Dudley Stuart John Moore, CBE was an English actor, comedian, composer and musician.Moore first came to prominence as one of the four writer-performers in the ground-breaking comedy revue Beyond the Fringe in the early 1960s, and then became famous as half of the highly popular television...
1978 comedy album Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam
Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam
Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam is the third and final recording made by Peter Cook and Dudley Moore featuring their characters Derek and Clive. It also charts the breakup of Cook and Moore's partnership....
, their third and final outing featuring their controversial alter-egos Derek and Clive
Derek and Clive
Derek and Clive is a double act of comedic characters created by Dudley Moore and Peter Cook in the 1970s. The performances were captured on the records Derek and Clive , Derek and Clive Come Again , and Derek and Clive Ad Nauseam , as well as in a film documentary, Derek and Clive Get the Horn...
, two foul-mouthed lavatory attendants who banter at length about their surreal day-to-day existences. The footage was shot in early September 1978.
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy
Russell Mulcahy is an Australian film director. His work is easily recognized by his use of fast cuts, tracking shots and use of glowing lights.- Music videos :...
, who would later direct Highlander
Highlander (film)
Highlander is a 1986 fantasy action film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. It stars Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, and Roxanne Hart. The film depicts the climax of an ages-old battle between immortal warriors, depicted through interwoven past and...
, the film was intended for cinematic release, but in October 1980 the British Board of Film Classification
British Board of Film Classification
The British Board of Film Classification , originally British Board of Film Censors, is a non-governmental organisation, funded by the film industry and responsible for the national classification of films within the United Kingdom...
rejected it outright on the grounds of its sustained and excessive use of bad language
Profanity
Profanity is a show of disrespect, or a desecration or debasement of someone or something. Profanity can take the form of words, expressions, gestures, or other social behaviors that are socially constructed or interpreted as insulting, rude, vulgar, obscene, desecrating, or other forms.The...
and blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
. Cook instead chose to release the film straight to video, a format that was at the time unregulated, but this plan also ran into trouble when several hundred copies were impounded by "God's copper" James Anderton
James Anderton
Sir Cyril James Anderton CBE is a British former police officer who served as Chief Constable of Greater Manchester from 1975 to 1991.-Career:...
of the Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police
Greater Manchester Police is the police force responsible for law enforcement within the metropolitan county of Greater Manchester in North West England...
, sending the small company behind the release spiralling into bankruptcy. Derek and Clive Get The Horn was finally granted an 18 certificate in 1993 and was released as a sell-through video by PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
.