Watch The Secret Policeman's Balls: The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball

The Secret Policeman's Balls: The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball is a British comedy film released in 1989. Directed by Ken O'Neill and produced by Martin Lewis, the film features some of the best comedians from the UK, including John Bird, Rory Bremner, and Kathy Burke. The movie is a compilation of comedy sketches, music performances, and stand-up comedy acts that were filmed during the famous Benefit Shows for Amnesty International, which took place in the late 1970s and 1980s.

The Amnesty International Benefit Shows were founded by Monty Python's member John Cleese, and they quickly became an institution in the world of comedy. The shows aimed to raise awareness of human rights issues while delivering top-notch entertainment to the audience.

As the title suggests, this movie showcases some of the highlights of the biggest Secret Policeman's Ball, which was held at the Royal Albert Hall in London in 1987. The event was a huge success, featuring some of the best comedians and musicians of that time.

The movie begins with a monologue by John Bird, who talks about the importance of supporting Amnesty International and how comedy can be a powerful tool to raise awareness of social issues. The film then cuts to a sketch by Rory Bremner, who impersonates Margaret Thatcher, the then-Prime Minister of the UK. Bremner's impersonation is spot-on, and the sketch is hilarious, with Thatcher making some outrageous statements.

The film then goes on to showcase a series of stand-up comedy acts by some of the UK's top comedians, including Julian Clary, Jo Brand, and Alexei Sayle. The humor is edgy, irreverent, and sometimes controversial, but always hilarious.

One of the highlights of the movie is a sketch by Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, who play a pair of snobbish upper-class English gentlemen. Their sketch is a witty commentary on the absurdities of English class society, and their impeccable timing and delivery make it one of the funniest sketches in the movie.

The movie then moves on to the music performances, featuring some of the biggest names in the music industry. Sting performs two songs, including his hit "Message in a Bottle," accompanied by a choir of young African women. Eric Clapton performs "Wonderful Tonight," and Bob Geldof and Dave Stewart perform "This Is Love."

The music performances are interspersed with comedy sketches and stand-up comedy acts, providing a perfect balance of entertainment and social commentary. The film ends with a group sing-along of "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" from Monty Python's Life of Brian, a fitting tribute to the legacy of the Amnesty International Benefit Shows.

Overall, The Secret Policeman's Balls: The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball is a must-see for anyone who loves comedy and music. The movie is a hilarious and thought-provoking tribute to the power of humor and music to bring people together and raise awareness of important social issues. With its stellar cast and top-notch performances, it's easy to see why the Benefit Shows for Amnesty International were such a huge success in their time, and why they continue to inspire comedians and musicians to this day.

The Secret Policeman's Balls: The Secret Policeman's Biggest Ball is a 1989 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.8.