Dress to Kill

Dress to Kill
Dress to Kill
Video by Eddie Izzard
Released 9 November 1998
Recorded Orpheum Theatre, San Francisco, California, United States
Genre Stand-up comedy
Length 114 minutes
Label Vision Video
Director Lawrence Jordan
Eddie Izzard video chronology
Glorious
(1997)
Dress to Kill
(1998)
Circle
(2002)

Dress To Kill is the title of a performance by Eddie Izzard, and is a continuation of the British comedian's surrealist, ideas-based comedy. The VHS was recorded during a performance in San Francisco, California, United States. However, the tour was a global one. During this tour Izzard also wrote the book Dress to Kill with David Quantick (photographs by Steve Double), which was published by Virgin Books in hardback in 1998 and in paperback in 2000.

Izzard's humour includes observations on the American concept of history, beginning with his throwaway line "I grew up in Europe, where the history comes from" and continuing through diversions about the belief that all Europeans live in castles ("we just long for a bungalow or something") and the attitude of Americans toward historical landmarks. Additionally, Izzard takes time to explain his background as an executive transvestite and how it affected his desire to join the military. This is explained through a proposal for the Army's "first battalion transvestite brigade...with fantastic makeup and a fantastic gun."

The centerpiece of the performance is a retelling of British history from Stonehenge through to the Reformation. This is done with Izzard adopting a very Italian accent (and miming riding on a Vespa) to signify the Pope talking to Henry VIII ("who is Sean Connery for this film") and explaining that he can't marry as many wives as he wants to. This is set against the backdrop of Martin Luther pinning his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg Cathedral, a paper that reads "Eine Minuten bitte. Ich habe einen kleinen Problemo avec diese Religione." "He was from everywhere," explains Izzard to great cheers from the audience. Similar to his use of Sean Connery as the voice of Henry VIII, he uses the voice of James Mason as the voice of God. He also nicks American comedian Bill Hicks routine about the dichotomy between the biblical account and the modern celebration of Easter.

Izzard, a self-proclaimed film buff, also describes the plot of The Great Escape in somewhat manic fashion. He is particularly fond of Steve McQueen's role in the film, and goes to great lengths to explain how inaccurate his escape through Central Europe actually is ("within fifteen minutes he's on the borders of Switzerland. This is from Poland! And if you don't know the geography, it goes Poland, Czechoslovakia, Holland, Venezuela, Africa, Bali, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and then Switzerland.").

Diversions are also made in relation to the Heimlich maneuver and the American Dream, while the performance ends with Izzard re-telling the story of how he didn't lose his virginity. An encore is then performed, featuring Izzard delivering the plot of the film Speed in French and explaining how his schoolboy French serves him in France itself.

One of Izzard's most well-known routines was performed during Dress To Kill: a satirical depiction of Church of England fundamentalism, wherein Izzard explains how Church of England fundamentalism would be impossible because people would be shouting out "You must have tea and cake with the vicar or you DIE!" and "CAKE OR DEATH?!" The latter phrase has become so well-known that it is now the name of an Eddie Izzard fansite.

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • dress to kill — When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • Dress to Kill (album) — Dress to Kill Studio album by 2Cents Released December 1, 2009 …   Wikipedia

  • dress to kill — verb To dress up so as to impress others (especially of the opposite sex) …   Wiktionary

  • dress to kill —    When someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.   (Dorking School Dictionary) …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • dress out — verb kill and prepare for market or consumption dress a turkey • Syn: ↑dress • Derivationally related forms: ↑dressing (for: ↑dress) • Hypernyms: ↑co …   Useful english dictionary

  • dress — ► VERB 1) (also get dressed) put on one s clothes. 2) put clothes on (someone). 3) wear clothes in a particular way or of a particular type: she dresses well. 4) decorate or arrange in an artistic or attractive way. 5) clean, treat, or apply a… …   English terms dictionary

  • dress — I. verb Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo French drescer, dresser to direct, put right, Vulgar Latin *directiare, from Latin directus direct, past participle of dirigere to direct, from dis + regere to lead straight more at right Date: 14th… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • dress — verb 1》 put on one s clothes.     ↘put clothes on (someone).     ↘wear clothes in a particular way or of a particular type: she dresses well.     ↘put on clothes appropriate for a formal occasion.     ↘(dress up) dress in smart clothes or in a… …   English new terms dictionary

  • Dressed to Kill — may refer to: Dressed to Kill (1980 film), directed by Brian De Palma Dressed to Kill (1941 film), with Lloyd Nolan, Mary Beth Hughes, and Sheila Ryan Dressed to Kill (1946 film), aka Sherlock Holmes in Dressed to Kill, with Basil Rathbone, Nigel …   Wikipedia

  • Meat dress of Lady Gaga — Artist Franc Fernandez Year …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”