A sympathetic black comedy about human nature and the relativity of principles, especially in times of need.

The use of a pig turns out to be a delicious metaphor about how much human beings are willing to get their hands dirty, just to have their bacon on the table, every day.

A tongue-in-cheek Monty Python twist in a film executive produced by ex-Beatle George Harrison.

Curious is the reference to the bad example of the French, in the bacon black market, which is exactly the same as that supplied by the English.

In Times of Brexit it seems an aditiinal irony to the British values and puritanism.

Bizarre and at times disgusting, this is an amusing comedy overall nevertheless, and the performances are simply divine. The best of the cast has to be Denholm Elliott as a rude cynic who places himself above all others, yet is unaware how low he himself stoops at times, but Maggie Smith is a delight too as a snobbish lady, and as her timid husband, Michael Palin has hardly been better. The film is however marred by having too many characters and much too many different individual story lines to follow. It is hard to keep track of who is who and what is what, which distracts from the jokes. The humour itself is a bit hard to grasp at times too, but generally the situations and dialogue stay amusing if not laugh-out-loud funny. Tony Pierce-Roberts, best known for his work with the Merchant-Ivory team, shoots the film well too, with interesting panning shots to aid the film visually. It is not really a brilliant comedy, and some have suggested that British viewers would best enjoy it, but there is enough in it, especially with the acting, for non-British filmgoers to enjoy it to a degree also.

So says Michael Palin after his wife Maggie Smith thrusts a knife into his hands, demanding that he kill the filthy beast making a mess in their middle class home. It is just after the war and there is a meat shortage. Butchers close faster than they open and some are accused of passing if horse as beef. Smith is a bit of a social climber here, trying too hard to impress those who are in a higher class. Neighbors suspect something is up as the odor from their house is unbearable. In fact, the pig is seen urinating, but fortunately, the audience is spared the sight of it defacating. In short, this is a black comedy that may not be for all tastes, especially those who don't eat pork.

After their teaming in "The Missionary", Palin and Smith were reunited for this strange comedy where the goal seems to be about making the audience sit gaping. As always, Smith is center of attention, but even she has a difficult time holding court when Liz Smith is on as her somewhat senile mother. Palin is delightfully droll, and Denholm Elliott and Richard Griffiths add authority. I really had a difficult time in tying to perceive what the film was trying to say, but had a hard time in finding fault with the darkness of the situation. So while I don't think I ever venture back in watching this again, I still recommend it for its performances, especially the two Smiths.