Captain Busby (1967) - extract

Quentin Crisp's acting debut.

Based on a surreal poem by Philip O'Connor, 'Captain Busby' is truly a curate's egg. The first half of the film sees the eponymous captain (played by O'Connor) enacting the bizarre actions of the verse, chewing his beard, bouncing through a second storey open window and "frowning at a passing ceiling". In the second half, a surreal interplay involving a carrot unfolds at a railway station.

What does it all mean? Very little, one suspects. Instead, enjoy the pleasingly peculiar lines (the curious rhythms and phrasing are similar to the choice wordplay in 1980's 'Sir Henry At Rawlinson End'), the arresting visuals and, above all, a rare acting role for Quentin Crisp as the stationmaster. O'Connor and Crisp, two very British eccentrics, were to become close friends until the former's death in 1998. (Alex Davidson)

You can watch the whole of this film and 1000 other complete films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive free of charge at the new BFI Mediatheque - http://www.bfi.org.uk/mediatheque

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• BFI
• artists
• Quentin
• Crisp
• railway
• trains
• gay

[chuckestarr]

Superb! Thanks for posting this long forgotten gem. In England we have a way of forgetting The more abstract thinkersinstead of celebrating them like the French or dare I say it the Americans Anger, Kuchar) Please ensure these people and this important time is not overlooked. Perhaps you could post the whole film?

[biggles12]

Genius.

[kjprar]

well, i just like the sweet opportunity to see quentin in 1967.

[KRISPYKWENT29]

Very interesting I read about this in the Quentin and Philip book. Oh Philip was a dreadful bore and a cun* was he not?

[raherecolston]

Quite right 01276. Cant think of much else to say about it. How it can be compared with the splendid Sir Henry at Rawlinsons End ,I dont know.

[01276]

I'm left thinking wtf and slightly bemused o.O