Yes, Prime Minister - Power to the People [VHS]
by Peter Whitmore (II)

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VHS Movie Reviews of Yes, Prime Minister - Power to the People [VHS]

Movie Review: The National Education Service
Summary: 5 Stars

Movie Review: Sniff! The end to a magnificent TV series.
Summary: 5 Stars

'Power to the people' finds Prime Minister Hacker faced with the problems of local government corruption and the rise in militant politics. The 1980s was, after the 30s, the century's shabbiest decade, and this is the series' most tragically cynical episode, as Idealism and Democracy are shown to be impotent in the face of Self-Interest and Power. Militancy and conservatism are not quite so hostile as one might have first imagined.

'Patron of the Arts' is a delightful fancy. Hacker is guest of honour at the National Theatre Awards, with an expected TV audience of 12 million, more than satisfying his egotism. Unfortunately, the compere threatens to ridicule him in revenge for the dismal arts grants provided by the government. Along with the joy of seeing John Fortune (a beloved British satirist) as the National Theatre director, we also learn precisely why arts in the 1980s was emasculated, given the choice between complicity or death.

'The National Education Service' sees Hacker trying to axe the Department of Education in response to Britain's appalling education system, with Sir Humphrey, as ever, manoeuvring to save the civil service, morality be hanged.

'The Tangled Web' is a sublime coda to a peerless series, and concludes its most fascinating narrative, the decline in power and assurance of civil service scion Sir Humphrey Appleby, scourge of the prime minister and reform. He seems to have wrested influence back from the Pime Minister when the latter is caught unwittingly lying to Parliament, but he falls victim to Hacker-like vanity when giving a radio interview - like a vampire exposed to the sun, Sir Humphrey's discretion and authority crumble. The vigour with which the much abused Bernard kicks him when he's down is priceless.

Movie Review: PLEASE BUY THIS TAPE
Summary: 5 Stars

Movie Review: Issues explored here crucial to 1980s' British politics
Summary: 4 Stars

"Power to the People" is probably the most thought-provocative of the series for students of British politics. The issues it brings up have been dominant ones over at least the past two decades. Roughly, Humphrey represents the Margaret Thatcher arguments for centralization of power, while and Hacker and his political advisor spin off the general Tony Blair arguments for the devolution of power back to local governments. To be sure, the specific plan debated on this issue is more liberal than most actual proposals made in the real-life Parliament, but the episode still concisely takes the viewer through the crises of logic which exist in a country where local government derives its power at the pleasure of the national government. Sadly, the episode doesn't take the viewer through as much comedy as is typical in YPM.

"Patron of the Arts" is a little gem of a story in which the Prime Minister gets his way. This isn't high-stakes politics-the most that Hacker's trying to avoid here is mild embarrassment in the artistic press-but it's good to see Hacker's full persuasive abilities come out to play. Sometimes the episodes go so long for the comic pass that Hacker looks completely unable to even say his name, much less lead a government-but "Patron" lets you see Hacker in masterful swagger.

Unfortunately, "Education" is no such animal. This episode has Hacker losing his political mettle when it's discovered that the school children he publicly lauded were actually thieves. Hacker immediately backs down from his solid proposal to abolish the Department of Education, when Humphrey suggests that the civil servants about to lose their jobs might make it difficult for him when he tries to explain why he applauded underage theft. It's a victory for the wily Humphrey, but a loss for the audience. Though extremely funny-especially in the scenes where Humphrey tests the benefits of Hacker's public education background-it's the one episode of YPM that really makes no sense. There was surely some way for Hacker to have gotten his way. Sadly he just folds without, seemingly, trying to find alternatives.

"Web" is, like "The Key" one of those rare episodes in which Humphrey is totally defeated. The Prime Minister unknowingly lies to Parliament about his government's activities and Humphrey refuses to help him cover things up. But when he gives an interview, he's taped saying what he thought were off-the-record comments of an unusually frank nature. The comments are so directly insubordinate they're enough to actually make Humphrey worry about losing his job-and give Hacker the pressure he needs to get his way. This episode is a true delight, with Nigel Hawthorne serving up perhaps his best-rounded performance of Humphrey.

Comedy Video

• Genres > Art House & International > By Country > United Kingdom
• Comedy > British
• Parody & Spoof
• Television
• Television > BBC > Genres > Comedy
• TV Series > Yes, Prime Minister
• Comedy - Parody & Spoof - General