The Sandwich Man (1966 film)

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The Sandwich Man
"The Sandwich Man" (1966).jpg
Film Poster
Directed by Robert Hartford-Davis
Written by Michael Bentine
Robert Hartford-Davis
Produced by Peter Newbrook
StarringMichael Bentine
Dora Bryan
Harry H. Corbett
CinematographyPeter Newbrook
Edited by Peter Taylor
Music by Mike Vickers
Production
company
Titan International Pictures
Distributed by Rank Film Distributors
Release date
  • July 1966 (1966-07)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£214,452 [1] or £189,334 [2]

The Sandwich Man is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis starring Michael Bentine, with support from a cast of British character actors including Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Norman Wisdom, Terry-Thomas and Ian Hendry. It was written by Hartford-Davis and Bentine. [3]

Contents

Plot synopsis

Horace Quilby is a mild-mannered widower living in the London Docklands. His job as a sandwich-board man requires him to wander around London wearing immaculate morning dress (top hat and tails) carrying advertisements. However, his real interest in life is pigeon racing – especially his bird Esmerelda, which is racing from Bordeaux to London – so he keeps calling at places on his route to see if there is any news.

During the course of one day, Quilby encounters a host of eccentric characters and becomes involved in a series of capers. He helps reunite a young model Sue with her errant boyfriend Steven.

Quilby's homing pigeon Esmerelda wins the race, and the whole of his neighbourhood joins in the celebrations.

Cast

Production

The film was the second in a short-lived series of co-productions between the National Film Finance Corporation and Rank. [1] : 7–8 

Critical reception

The film was poorly received at the time of its release, critically and commercially. [1] : 13–14 

In contemporary reviews Variety said: "Spotty pic. ... Gags and situations do not add up to useful comedy." [4] ; Kine Weekly called the film a "hilarious romp in colour through London." [5]

Leslie Halliwell wrote: "Spurned when it was first released, this comedy variety show, mostly in mime, can now be seen of a kind popularised by TV, and may have been simply ahead of its time. It certainly seems funnier than it did." [6]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Known as the Goon that got away, and as the genius behind Potty Time, Michael Bentine was yet another British comedian who failed to repeat his TV and/or radio success on the big screen. This virtually silent comedy was politely considered "ahead of its time" on its release, but, over 30 years later, this euphemism for "not very good" still applies. The cast is all-star, but the film's few pleasures come from Bentine's often inspired mime as he wanders the streets of London with his sandwich board." [7]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Petrie, Duncan James (2016). "Resisting Hollywood Dominance in Sixties British Cinema: The NFFC/Rank Joint Financing Initiative" (PDF). Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television.
  2. ↑ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945–1985. Edinburgh University Press p 360
  3. ↑ "The Sandwich Man". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "The Sandwich Man". Variety . 243 (13): 16. 17 August 1966.
  5. ↑ "The Sandwich Man". Kine Weekly . 587 (3060): 3. 26 May 1966.
  6. ↑ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 881. ISBN   0-586-08894-6.
  7. ↑ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 802. ISBN   9780992936440.
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