God Rot Tunbridge Wells!

Tony Palmer's feature on Handel's life, scripted by John Osborne, is both extremely amusing and profoundly moving. It centres on the last week of his life, when, outraged by a poor performance of his Messiah in Tunbridge Wells, the decrepit composer took to his bed. Shot on location in Germany, England, Ireland and Italy, the film stars Trevor Howard and features Handel's music as an integral part of the drama, performed by The English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras.