another masterpiece that need a dvd release but some library have the vhs and well worth seek out . just a brilliant play about many thing and foremost be euthanasia and respectability and religion and and fundamental human relationship . the script effectively use intelligent humor not only to cope with an issue like a severely disabled child and but to bind the parent in their love for jo and each other . a the couple and alan bates and janet suzman be perfectly match both in act virtuosity and in bring their deep and intelligent character to life . i have recently see bates brilliant performance in butley which be release a a film a couple year after joe egg and he play a teacher in both and cynical and intellectual and and funny and although butley be much dark than his character of bry here . if you throw in such great performance in the go between and woman in love and whistle down the wind and the caretaker and georgy girl and not to mention the more obvious king of heart and zorba the greek and and i would say that alan bates have a career comparable to peter otoole and albert finney and and the other great british actor of his era . director peter medak also have one of my all time favorites the ruling class release the same year ( 1972 ) a joe egg and which comprise a career year in anybody book . he have kind of a spotty filmography ( the krays be another highlight ) and but these two gem will mark him a a great director .