If anyone thought that popular obsession with manufactured celebrity was a new phenomenon, they would only have to see Stephen Fry's film 'Bright Young Things', based on Evelyn Waugh's novel of inter-war society, to learn they were mistaken. But the title of the original work was 'Vile Bodies', and the jollier title seems consistent with a film which, while great fun, lacks the satirical edge that Waugh was known for. We do get lots of débutantes gallivanting about, but it all is made to seem rather jolly, and although the coming of the war provides a context that makes the high jinks seem a little uncomfortable, the war changed every level of British society, so in itself this proves rather little. Meanwhile, a fine gallery of mainly Briths actors and actresses enjoy themselves dressing up, and Peter O'Toole in particular is outrageous. But a call to revolution this is not.
Review of Bright Young Things
