The Chain (1984) User Reviews

the philosophising removal man about London

[didi-5 · 8/10 · 9 June 2009]

'The Chain' is an excellent film from the pen of Jack Rosenthal (who later reworked it into the TV series 'Moving Story'), starring Warren Mitchell as Bamber, a student of philosophy and pronouncer of wisdom to those about to move home. On his shift are a rag bag of working types including the ever reliable Bernard Hill.

The premise of the film is simple - we watch several people moving up in the world and follow the chain of progress through the eyes of the removal men (Last Removals, as good a name as any). So as we watch the moves from Hackney to Tufnell Park to Wilesden to Hammersmith to Hampstead to Holland Park to Knightsbridge, seeing how the different families inside the flats and houses deal with life, we see both a range of people and ways of life, and a travelogue of 80s London.

Bamber of course is the wisest of all - encountering a pompous couple doing everything on the cheap (Nigel Hawthorne and Anna Massey), a young couple just starting their future (Denis Lawson and Rita Wolf), and a widowed lady longing for her Mediterranean home (Billie Whitelaw), amongst others. Not one seems as settled as he is.

Great writing and razor sharp characters give 'The Chain' the edge over similar dramas, and although it may now feel a bit of a period piece, it is still an excellent film - and a good companion to Rosenthal's feature length drama for TV about taxi drivers, 'The Knowledge'.

A Moving Story. In both senses of the word.

[JamesHitchcock · 8/10 · 29 March 2017]

The "chain" of the title is a property chain comprising seven households, all moving house on the same day, from one district of London to another. It tells the story of each household and the reasons why they are moving, and also features some of the removal company employees who assist them. It opens with a clergyman preaching a radio sermon on the seven deadly sins, and the idea is that at least one member of each of the households is guilty of one of these sins, but this theme is never applied very consistently. Nigel Hawthorne's miserly, penny-pinching Mr. Thorn is a fine exemplar of avarice, and the family moving from upmarket Holland Park to even more upper class Knightsbridge an equally fine one of pride. (Even when they arrive in Knightsbridge, their materfamilias tries to pretend that they live in the even ritzier district of Belgravia). Some of the other sins, however, are not dealt with as fully. Nobody, for example, is actually guilty of gluttony in the literal sense, even if one character is described as a "glutton for punishment".

The film was made while Margaret Thatcher was in power. Films about "Thatcher's Britain" often concentrated upon industrial strife or the plight of the unemployed, but this one deals with some other aspects of the period. The government placed great importance upon social mobility and upon creating what they called a "property-owning democracy", and something of this is reflected in the film. The chain begins in working-class Hackney, with a young man moving out of his mother's home into his first rented flat, and ending up in Knightsbridge. Along the way we meet a young couple leaving rented accommodation for their first home of their own (with the aid of a £29,000 mortgage, a substantial financial commitment in 1984) and several families who are moving to a more upmarket area or from a smaller property to a larger one. The film also reflects London's growing ethnic diversity, with Afro-Caribbean, Asian and Greek Cypriot characters.

It was not just individuals who could move up the social ladder; whole districts could do the same. At one time few people would have moved between Hammersmith, once one of the poorer districts of West London, and the upper-middle-class heights of Hampstead, as the Thorns do here, but the eighties gentrification of the Hammersmith/Fulham area made such a move quite plausible. An unexpected plot twist at the end brings the story back full circle to where it began in Hackney.

The film stars some major names from the British acting profession of this period; perhaps the most memorable performances come from Hawthorne, Billie Whitelaw as the grieving widow Mrs. Andreos, Leo McKern as the elderly millionaire Thomas Jackson and Maurice Denham as the irascible old grandfather, forever trying the patience of his long-suffering daughter and son-in-law. (Rather surprisingly, in the catalogue of deadly sins he represents envy rather than wrath). There are also good contributions from Warren Mitchell as the philosophy-reading removal man, Bamber, and from Bernard Hill as his more earthy colleague Nick. (Bamber's nickname, a reference to his vast store of general knowledge, derives from the television quiz-show host Bamber Gascoigne).

The script was one of the few written for the cinema by the late Jack Rosenthal, best remembered as a television playwright, and displays Rosenthal's normal combination of wit with powers of social observation and psychological insight. Although "The Chain" is normally described as a comedy, and although it does indeed contain a good deal of humour, it also has its more serious side, particularly in the story lines involving Mrs Andreos and Jackson when it becomes a "moving story" in both senses of the word.

The British film industry, which seemed moribund for much of the 1970s, saw a remarkable resurgence in the 1980s. Some of the fine movies produced during this revival, such as the Oscar-winners "Chariots of Fire" and "Gandhi" are now regarded as classics, but others have been largely forgotten. "The Chain" is a case in point; I saw it when it was first released in the cinema in 1984 and again on television in the nineties, when it was shown to publicise the ITV spin-off series, "Moving Story", but since then it appeared to vanish from sight before resurfacing recently on the "London Live" TV channel. Perhaps it is overdue for a revival. 8/10

An unjustly forgotten film

[malcolmgsw · 6/10 · 19 February 2017]

This film was written by one of the greatest TV writers of the 20th century,Jack Rosenthal.However it seems to be almost completely forgotten,the last review being dated 2009.I had forgotten about it till I saw it recently on London Live.Difficult to understand why.It is a numerous look at the stresses and strains of moving house.It has a first rate cast with lots of well known faces.The best known being Warren Mitchell in charge of the removers.Though why he had to wear that dreadful wig is a mystery.Probably the funniest character is that played by Nigel Hawthorne as a link in the chain who pays for his desire to do things on the cheap.Maybe the fact that this film has been forgotten is due to the fact that this film came out in the year when cinema attendances hit rock bottom.

I agree: another of the great ones

[SHAWFAN · 27 May 2002]

No negative comments by your other quite perceptive reviewers and rightly so. I agree with all of them as to this wonderful film's outstanding qualities and especially as to its being highly underrated. It's a kind of vignette movie like "Quartette" or "Tales of Manhattan" yet all the vignettes are thematically connected in time and process, each throwing light on the others and on the film as a whole. It's simply a classic in conception and brilliant execution. Bravo to all concerned.

Reworking of La Ronde

[ste-34 · 7/10 · 16 May 2021]

This is a modern retelling of Arthur Schnitzler's La Ronde, with property transactions standing in for Schnitzler's sexual ones. Rosenthal also effectively plugs in the seven deadly sins.

Whilst it may seem like a TV drama, this was made for cinema release so it's a bit depressing that the only version seemingly available at the moment is in 4:3.

I'd forgotten just how good a script it is. It has dated a little since its release, but the cleverness of it, and some of the performances make it deserving of preservation. Mitchell and Hill are spot on as usual and Nigel Hawthorne and Anna Massey are particularly hilarious.

It's not perfect though. The awful source music (i.e. What people are listening to on the radio/ghetto blaster) that's meant to be "what the kids are listening to" but has clearly been composed by Stanley Myers to save money, really dates it, and there are one or two truly shockingly bad performances from some of the younger actors. Billie Whitelaw is totally miscast, and a number of the lines (mainly from the character Paul) don't land, which is the fault of the director. For these reasons it loses a star from me.

Overall though, they don't write em like this any more.

The Chain

[CinemaSerf · 6/10 · 8 June 2023]

This is quite a cleverly interwoven series of scenarios following a series of people all moving house on the same day. We start at the bottom of the chain and work our way quickly and frequently quite pithily, through to the posh folks at the top of the chain - the ones who want to unscrew the light switches and remove the cemented-in garden furniture! They say moving house is amongst the most traumatic of events that befalls us (in peacetime, anyway) and Jack's Gold and Rosenthal have managed to assemble a solid cast of Brits to take us through their day of trauma and domestic nightmares via an avenue of prejudice, snobbery, kindness and plain mean spiritedness. Nigel Hawthorn takes the cake for me - the supercilious "Thorn" with long suffering wife "Betty" (Anna Massey) who insists on taking the ash from the fireplaces so he can fertilise his garden; but there are also engaging efforts from Maurice Denham, Billie Whitelaw with Bernard Hill and Warren Mitchell holding the narrative together nicely as one set of removals men. The humour is plentiful, but runs too much to stereotype for me. Very much of it's time - Mrs. Thatcher's Britain - it evokes a certain degree of disdain and nostalgia in almost equal measure, but it settles into a routine that becomes a tad predictable after a while. Still, it is an interesting concept that had it lost twenty minutes or so, could have been quite a pointed observation of human behaviour under varying degrees of pressure; self-imposed or otherwise.

A great, grossly underrated British film

[Tom-284 · 9/10 · 13 March 1999]

The sort of film that reminds us that a nice story and a great cast still make a great film.

The film centres around a group of Londoners who run across the social spectrum who are all moving home on the same day, some of whom are being ably assisted by a gang of removal-men fronted by Warren Mitchell.

Among others, notable appearances from Nigel Hawthorne, playing a socially obsessed miser, Leo Mckern as a plutocrat who's decided to go back to his roots, and of course Mitchell himself who is clearly the wisest person in the whole film.

The pace is excellent and the characters well realised - and for anyone who loves seeing London on film it's a treat too.

It's a charming and very humanitarian film that you'll enjoy immensely if you allow it to.

A brilliant TV drama, with superb actors

[gray4 · 10/10 · 2 August 2004]

This is TV drama at its best. The plot is tightly constructed, involving seven linked house moves. Jack Rosenthal's writing is exceptional, blending comedy and pathos in just the right proportions, and the very realistic London settings are an integral part of the drama.

The script is delivered to perfection by a team of top-quality actors, led by Warren Mitchell and Bernard Hill as the linking furniture removers. The introduction suggests an overall 'seven deadly sins' theme, and on reflection that can be picked out. But the stories intertwine and grip the viewer so effectively that broader messages are of little consequence. The recent revival of Rosenthal plays on BBC's arts channel is a reminder of the high quality of TV drama in the 1970s and 1980s, now sadly diminished. And the overall IMDB rating is a complete mystery, given the votes actually cast for The Chain.

All human life

[originalveghead · 9/10 · 5 June 2004]

You may be mistaken for thinking this film has a religious heart. OK, it is a story of the seven deadly sins, but that's where the religion ends. In fact it is the story of humanity, expressed by describing a day in the life of a removals team. The chain of house-movers encompass all of the virtues and sins of the world. Not only do we see the upward transitions from affordable house to newly affordable homes, we see the fundamental impact a house-move has on the movers. We also see how similar the different classes, cultures and sexes are when faced with one of the most significant upheavals a human can endure: moving home.

Brilliant actors, brilliant screenplay, brilliant concept.

A superb movie that will have you belly-laughing.

Good

[Gubby-Allen · 5/10 · 27 February 2023]

Reasonable entertainment for a free film on the ITV Player. A good cast to pick out people from nearly 40 years ago.

There is not a great deal to it, we are merely privy to a day in the life of a group of people moving homes, mainly involving a removal firm. There is a gradual movement from the perceived bottom of the ladder to the top.

It doesn't invoke much of any emotion and a couple of the characters do not offer anything at all, but it is never dull, good for location shots and a film way ahead of it's time, with the social and economic issues still prevalent now. It is recommended to anyone.

Removals in London

[robred69 · 31 January 2001]

The Chain is a film that I can only describe as a gem. It is set in London in the Thatcher era , and does not shirk in its light critical observation of a London at a time of polarised beliefs and values.

The film is not just a journey of London Boroughs , but a journey to the very inner motivations and ideals of the class-ridden characters portrayed in the film. The writer uses the Biblical seven deadly sins in which to drive the film along . Warren Mitchell is superb as Bamber , the leader of the removal crew. A philosopher who never loses his sight of humanity , somehow makes sense of the most complex insecure people and situations that surround him in the day. My favourite line is "I've got my bricklaying at two". This underlined the Black Economy that existed in London , during a period of economic uncertainty. A must see , for any film buff into social criticism of the eighties.

this is such a good watch

[ib011f9545i · 8/10 · 3 May 2021]

I recall watching this on British tv with my parents.

They are long gone but the film makes me happy.

This is well written and acted,the casting is great.

If the 1980s are history now history and sociology students should watch this film.

One character is very worried about spending 29,000 on a house,1984 was a long time ago!!.

The 1980s were a divided time in Britain but this is a not a political film.

There is a black character who gets casually harassed by the police,an issue then as now.

This is a comedy but has an emotional core.

I wonder what the properties look like now.

"One door closes, another one opens!"

[richardchatten · 9/10 · 20 January 2023]

Talking Pictures have preceded this film with a warning that this film belongs to an earlier era and thus might offend some viewers. Tempos fugit!

When I met the veteran cameraman Wolfgang Suschitzky this was a film he recalled with particular pleasure. It deals with a situation probably only too familiar with people of all classes. The cast varies throughout the film but it's beating heart is Warren Mitchell who talks more like a philosophical social worker than a mere labourer, who declares that his job "Ain't a job, this is a public service!" commiserating with his clients that moving house is a trauma second only to bereavement and divorce.

Movin' on up...

[Rambo-7 · 8 September 2001]

...but not to the east side, "Jeffersons"-style. Rather, a study of the mind sets of the various social classes in London. The film might be simply described as 'a day in the life of London' as several people move houses, each to a more upscale neighbourhood, each to the house of the next one in the film. A 'nice little movie' is an apt description - there are no car chases, no action heroes, no blonde bombshells, just a study of what makes people tick. I grew up in Canada, but lived in London at age 20, and am somewhat familiar with the areas in question, and can't help but smile to myself as I watch this film. The philosophical musings of the moving crew boss can be a little confusing, particularly with his heavy accent, but all-in-all, it's a simple set of sub-stories to follow, each with its own particular flavour. A must-see for the film festival crowd, similar movies would be the West German-made "Aria" and the internationally directed "Night On Earth".