The Secret Policeman's Ball mediagraphy
This is a list of audio, video and film releases of The Secret Policeman's Ball series of charity shows.
Theatrical films made from the shows
UK film releases
| Title | Director | Producer | Executive Producer | Show director | Show producer | Stage year | Release year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasure At Her Majesty’s | Roger Graef | Roger Graef | Peter Luff | Jonathan Miller | John Cleese, David Simpson, Peter Luff & Martin Lewis | 1976 | 1977 | 100-minute documentary featuring rehearsals, backstage footage and performance of the 1976 show A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick) |
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball | Roger Graef | Roger Graef & Thomas Schwalm | Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | John Cleese | Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | 1979 | 1980 | 94-minute concert performance film of the 1979 show of the same name |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball | Julien Temple | Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | John Cleese & Ron Eyre | Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | 1981 | 1982 | 99-minute concert performance film of the 1981 show of the same name |
US film releases
| Title | Director | Producer | Executive Producer | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monty Python Meets Beyond The Fringe | Roger Graef | Roger Graef & Thomas Schwalm | Peter Luff & Martin Lewis | 1978 | Documentary featuring rehearsals, backstage footage and performance of the 1976 show A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick). This was the Pleasure At Her Majesty’s film misleadingly re-titled by the US distributor (without Amnesty’s permission) for the American market. This US theatrical version differed from the UK theatrical release. Approximately 15 minutes of behind-the-scenes documentary footage was cut from the original film. |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball (USA Version) | Martin Lewis | Harvey Weinstein & Bob Weinstein | 1982 | 110-minute concert film amalgamating footage from the two original UK films of the 1979 show and the 1981 show. With new, specially-created opening sequence. Original footage directed by Julien Temple & Roger Graef. Original footage produced by Martin Lewis & Peter Walker. |
Australia/NZ film releases
| Title | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball | 1981 | UK theatrical version |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball | 1982 | UK theatrical version |
TV specials made from the shows
The premiere broadcast of each TV special, listed in chronological sequence (This list excludes TV transmissions of films that had received prior theatrical release)
UK TV broadcasts
| Title | Director | Producer | Executive Producer | Show director | Show producer | Year | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pleasure At Her Majesty’s | Roger Graef | Roger Graef | David Simpson, Peter Luff & Martin Lewis | Jonathan Miller | John Cleese, David Simpson, Peter Luff & Martin Lewis | 1976 | BBC 1 | 100-minute documentary featuring rehearsals, backstage footage and performance of the 1976 show A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick). |
| The Mermaid Frolics | Roger Graef | Roger Graef | Peter Luff & Martin Lewis | Terry Jones | Martin Lewis & Peter Luff | 1977 | ITV Network via Granada TV | 60-minute TV special of performances from the 1977 show 'An Evening Without Sir Bernard Miles |
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball | Roger Graef | Roger Graef & Thomas Schwalm | Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | John Cleese | Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | 1979 | ITV Network via London Weekend TV | 60-minute TV special of highlights from the 1979 stage show of the same name. This was NOT the full-length 94-minute film released theatrically in 1980, though most sequences were also in the theatrical film. |
| The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball – The Music | Ken O’Neill | Neville Bolt & Tony Hollingsworth | 1989 | Channel 4 | 60-minute TV special of music performances from the 1987 shows. Transmitted after its home-video release | |||
| The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball | Ken O’Neill | Neville Bolt & Tony Hollingsworth | 1991 | Channel 4 | 95-minute TV special of performances from the 1987 shows. Transmitted after its home-video release. | |||
| The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball | Mike Holgate | Judith Holder | 1989 | ITV Network | 70-minute TV special of performances from the 1989 show of the same name | |||
| Barf Bites Back | 1991 | ITV Network via London Weekend TV | 60-minute TV special of show held to celebrate Amnesty's 30th anniversary | |||||
| The Big 3-0 – Amnesty’s 30th Anniversary Special | David G. Hillier | Dave Morely & Graham K. Smith | 1991 | ITV Network via Central TV | 120-minute TV show specially created as celebration of Amnesty's 30th anniversary | |||
| So You Think You’re Irish | Gerard Stembridge | John Sutton | 1997 | ITV Network via Granada TV | 80-minute TV special | |||
| So You Think You’re Irish 2 | Gerard Stembridge | Producer: John Sutton & Sean Love | 1998 | ITV Network via Granada TV | 3 x 30-minute TV episodes | |||
| We Know Where You Live, Live! | Lisa Chapman & Richard Parker | Malcolm Gerrie & Andy Ward | Eddie Izzard | Katherine Allen | 2001 | Channel 4 | 100-minute TV special of performances from the 2001 show of the same name. | |
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball 2006 | 2006 | Channel 4 | 70-minute TV special of highlights from the 2006 show. | |||||
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball 2008 | 2008 | Channel 4 | TV special of highlights from the 2008 show. |
US TV broadcasts
| Title | Director | Executive Producer | Music | Original footage by | Year | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Secret Policeman's Private Parts | Martin Lewis | Harvey Weinstein & Bob Weinstein | Alan Brewer | Julien Temple, Roger Graef, Martin Lewis & Peter Walker | 1983 | HBO/Cinemax | 80-minute compilation from the 1976 and 1977 shows; sequences from the 1979 and 1981 shows that had not been incorporated in the USA theatrical version of The Secret Policeman's Other Ball; unused outtakes from all four shows. With new, specially-created opening and interstitial sequences. |
Related TV shows (UK & US)
- Sky At Westminster Abbey (1981) – 75-minute concert celebrating Amnesty's 20th Anniversary
- Conspiracy of Hope (1986) – All-day concert celebrating Amnesty International
- Human Rights Now! (1988) – Concert celebrating Amnesty International
- The Secret Policeman's Retro Ball! (1992) – 60-minute documentary on history of rock musician support for Amnesty
- The Secret Policeman's Concert (1992) -60-minute compilation of rock performances for Amnesty
- Free to Laugh: A Comedy and Music Special for Amnesty International -TV special video-taped at the Wiltern Theater, Hollywood on Sunday March 8, 1992
- Amnesty International Concert for Human Rights (1998) -Paris concert celebrating 50th Anniversary of Universal Declaration Of Human Rights
- Remember The Secret Policeman's Ball? (2004)- 75-minute documentary about the Amnesty shows
DVD box set
The Secret Policeman's Balls is a three-disc DVD box set released by Shout! Factory in the United States and Canada on 27 January 2009. The discs record comedic and musical performances given at a series of fund-raising events for Amnesty International known collectively as The Secret Policeman's Balls, the performances are from events between 1976 and 1989.[1]
The box set includes five films: Pleasure at Her Majesty's (1976), The Secret Policeman’s Ball (1979), The Secret Policeman's Other Ball (1981), The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball (1987) and The Secret Policeman’s Biggest Ball (1989).
Performers featured include members of Monty Python, namely John Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, performers from the early-1960s Satire Boom, such as Peter Cook, Dudley Moore, Alan Bennett and Jonathan Miller, as well then up-and-coming performers such as Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, and Jennifer Saunders.
The box set also contains performances by musicians, Pete Townshend, Sting, Phil Collins, Bob Geldof, Peter Gabriel, Jackson Browne, Lou Reed, Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading, plus duets from Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, and Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins.
Also included is a BBC documentary Remember The Secret Policeman’s Ball, and some performances from The Mermaid Frolics (1977) and introductions and commentaries from executive producer Martin Lewis, who also provided the sleeve notes.[2]
Audio recordings made from the shows
UK – Audio releases
| Title | Producer | Release date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick) | Martin Lewis | 1976 | Transatlantic Records | Album of highlights of the 1976 show |
| The Mermaid Frolics | Martin Lewis | 1977 | Polydor Records | Album of comedy & music highlights of the 1977 An Evening Without Sir Bernard Miles |
| Here Comes The Judge | Martin Lewis | 1979 | Virgin Records | Mini-album featuring Peter Cook's "Entirely A Matter For You" monologue from "The Secret Policeman’s Ball" |
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball | Martin Lewis | 1979 | Island Records | Album of comedy highlights of the 1979 show |
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball – The Music | Martin Lewis | 1980 | Island Records | 12” EP of music highlights of the 1979 show |
| Neil Innes: Protest Song | Martin Lewis | 1980 | Warner Bros. Records | Single of Neil Innes' performance of "Protest Song" from "A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick)" |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball | Martin Lewis | 1981 | Springtime!/Island Records | Album of comedy highlights of the 1981 show |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball – The Music | Martin Lewis | 1982 | Springtime!/Island Records | Album of music highlights of the 1981 show |
| The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball | 1987 | Virgin Records | Album of comedy highlights of the 1987 show | |
| The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball – The Music | 1987 | Virgin Records | Album of music highlights of the 1987 show | |
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball | Martin Lewis | 1991 | Laughing Stock | Cassette-only reissue of original 1979 comedy album |
| The Complete 'A Poke In The Eye (With A Sharp Stick) | Martin Lewis | 1992 | Springtime!/Castle | First CD release of original 1976 album. Issued with bonus disc of unreleased material |
| The Complete 'Secret Policeman’s Other Ball | Martin Lewis | 1992 | Springtime!/Castle | First CD release of original 1981 album. Issued with bonus disc of unreleased material |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball – The Music | Martin Lewis | 1992 | Springtime!/Castle Communications | First UK CD release of album of music highlights of the 1981 show |
US/Canada – Audio releases
| Title | Producer | Release date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Secret Policeman’s Ball – The Music | Martin Lewis | 1980 | Atco/Atlantic Records | Album of highlights of the 1979 show |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball – The Music | Martin Lewis | 1982 | Island/Warner Bros. Records | Album of music highlights of the 1981 show |
| The Secret Policeman’s Third Ball – The Music | 1987 | Virgin Records | Album of music highlights of the 1987 show | |
| The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball – The Music | Martin Lewis | 1992 | Springtime!/Rhino Records | First US CD release of album of music highlights of the 1981 show. Released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the album's original release in 1982 |
| Dead Parrot Society: The Best Of British Comedy | Martin Lewis | 1993 | Springtime!/Rhino Records | Compilation CD includes first US release of comedy content from the 1976 & 1981 shows |
CD Booklet notes
- The Complete A Poke In The Eye – CD release Springtime!/Castle 1992
- The Complete Secret Policeman's Other Ball – CD release Springtime!/Castle 1992
- The Secret Policeman's Concert – CD release Springtime!/Castle 1992
- The Secret Policeman's Other Ball – The Music – CD release Springtime!/Rhino 1992
- Dead Parrot Society – CD release Springtime!/Rhino 1993
References
- "The Secret Policeman's Balls (2009)", Amazon.com, retrieved 3 March 2009.
- Latchem, John, "Unveiling Britain's 'Secret'", Home Media Magazine Archived 2008-12-09 at the Wayback Machine, posted 05 Dec 2008, retrieved 3 March 2009.
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