The Great McGonagall
1975, English. Directed by Joseph McGrath.
"I am Queen Victoria, and I am very Big in England."
In this high-camp farce, Goons legend Spike Milligan stars as William Topaz McGonagall, an unemployed Scottish weaver and aspiring poet laureate who falls in love with Queen Victoria - a brilliant cameo by Peter Sellers - and thereafter devotes his banal poetry to her. Though McGonagall's solicitations are rejected by the Queen, it doesn't stop the turgid prose, and pathos, from overflowing as McGonagall hilariously attempts to become the greatest poet in the land. The image of the bad poet, trapped by his romanticism and inspired by a muse with a tin ear, appealed mightily to Spike Milligan, and this cult British spoof features the Goons show maestro at his ridiculous, genre-defying best.
- Runtime
- 1h 25m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- English
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Great McGonagall
The Great McGonagall is streaming on Philo in India.
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PhiloAvailability in India as of 9 November 2026. Streaming data by JustWatch.
Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 23 January 1975
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Written by
- Spike Milligan, Joseph McGrath
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News & fan talk
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The Great McGonagall: quick answers
Is The Great McGonagall worth watching?
The Great McGonagall doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Great McGonagall?
The Great McGonagall runs 85 minutes (1h 25m).
Does The Great McGonagall have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Great McGonagall. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Great McGonagall parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Great McGonagall yet.
Which OTT platform is The Great McGonagall on?
The Great McGonagall is streaming on Philo in India. (Checked 9 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Great McGonagall?
If you liked The Great McGonagall, try Shane Gillis: Beautiful Dogs, Adam Sandler: Love You, Louis C.K.: Ridiculous.
Who directed The Great McGonagall?
The Great McGonagall (1975) was directed by Joseph McGrath and stars Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Julia Foster.