Product Details

• Actors: Richard Attenborough, Terry-Thomas
• Directors: John Boulting
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Charter Film
• VHS Release Date: November 24, 1998
• Run Time: 96 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 1572523840
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #265,730 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

England's comic filmmaking duo the Boulting Brothers had several international hits in the 1950s, including such satires of British institutions as I'm All Right Jack (which skewered business and labor), Lucky Jim (higher education), and the 1956 Private's Progress, which took on the military. Boulting favorite Ian Carmichael is wonderful as Stanley Windrush, a university student who interrupts his education for the purely patriotic reason of serving his country as an army officer--and quickly flunks out of training school. Demoted to private, the refined Stanley soon discovers that a soldier's life means keeping company with some rough trade, including a particularly unpolished bloke played by Richard Attenborough. Terry-Thomas is delightful as Major Hitchcock, and Dennis Price is very good as Stanley's ever-confounded commanding officer, Tracepurcel. The script eventually veers into a plot about a secret mission to reclaim art treasures confiscated by the Nazis, but the film never loses its parodying edge. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic!, March 2, 2011

By 

Fred J. Forschler "forsch -" (Kingwood, TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Private's Progress [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I first saw this movie just after release freom the Army.
I thought it was made to chronicle my experiences as so much was me!!!
I had to see it three times as I laughed so much I missed the next line!!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT BRITISH MOVIE!!, August 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Private's Progress [VHS] (VHS Tape)

THIS IS A GREAT BRITISH MOVIE THAT'S HIGHLY RECCOMMENDED!!CHECK IT OUT!!