Rising Damp 1980

Rupert Rigsby [Leonard Rossiter] is the middle-aged landlord of a dilapidated townhouse who takes in a new tenant: art student John Harris [Christopher Strauli]. Harris shares the same room as medical student Philip Smith [Don Warrington], who claims to be the son of an African chief, a boast that adds an air of mystery to the building’s cramped routines.

Rigsby has fallen for his only female tenant, Ruth Jones [Frances De La Tour]. Ruth Jones, however, prefers Philip Smith [Don Warrington], who is younger, more attractive, and more sophisticated than either Rigsby or Ruth.

Philip is not especially interested in Ruth and eggs Rigsby on to humiliate him, even going so far as to deliberately throw a boxing match against Rigsby, a dare that Ruth had agreed to attend only if the winner took her out.

Rigsby’s attempts to court Ruth constantly go awry; meanwhile, John earns the wrath of his girlfriend Sandra [Carrie Jones]‘s father.

Charles Seymour [Denholm Elliott], a conman with upper-class affectations, courts Ruth in pursuit of her money. Though initially enamoured of Seymour’s perceived social status, Rigsby becomes suspicious when Seymour repeatedly fails to pay his rent. Philip shares the same suspicions regarding Seymour’s true agenda and finally confronts him.

With Rigsby eavesdropping on the confrontation, Seymour threatens to expose Philip as a native Briton (rather than the African prince he has long claimed to be) if he reveals what he knows.

Enraged, Rigsby appears from behind a door and unleashes a barrage of abuse on Seymour before finally throwing him out. Then, calmer, Rigsby assures Philip he believes nothing of Seymour’s story, and concludes that everything in Philip’s demeanor suggests he is indeed descended from African royalty.