When Dame Beatrice (Athene Syler) retires from charitable work, she finds her life rather empty. Suddenly an irresistible request to help unfortunate orphans comes along, and inspired by her maid's chequered past, takes on one final charitable challenge. An incident with a neighbours mink coat suggest a scam to the dotty Dame. .. Read more
| Starring | Terry-Thomas, Alastair Sim, hattie Jacques, Billie Whitelaw |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Hamer, Robert Asher, John Boulting, Mari |
| Genres | Comedy |
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When Dame Beatrice (Athene Syler) retires from charitable work, she finds her life rather empty. Suddenly an irresistible request to help unfortunate orphans comes along, and inspired by her maid's chequered past, takes on one final charitable challenge. An incident with a neighbours mink coat suggest a scam to the dotty Dame. Abetted by her bored lodgers, a retired army major (Terry-Thomas), a tutor for debutante ladies (Hattie Jacques) and the unemployable Pinkie (Elspeth Duxbury) the gang enter into high-class robbery. But when the job goes thrillingly well, with the furs being sold (through Kenneth Williams' hedge, er, fence) the money is given to the tearfully grateful orphans, and it seems churlish to stop now. With a witty homage to THE THIRD MAN and featuring a classic performance from Irene Handl as a fur shop owner, this is a brilliant fast-paced farce.
| Starring | Terry-Thomas, Alastair Sim, hattie Jacques, Billie Whitelaw, Dennis Price, John Le Mesurier, Athene Seyler, Irene Handl, Francesca Annis, Kenneth Williams, William Hartnell, Peter Sellers, George Cole, Elspeth Duxbury, Terry Thomas, Terry |
|---|---|
| Director | Robert Hamer, Robert Asher, John Boulting, Mari |
| Studio | optimum |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 36 mins Watch now: 1 hr 20 mins |
| Certificate | DVD: |
| Genres | Comedy |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Hearing-impaired | English |
| Released | DVD: 27 May 2002 Watch now: 16 Jun 2009 Production year: 1960 |
| Watch now | Subscribe and watch this as part of an unlimited package. |
| Format | DVD |
Boasting a plot that could have been stolen from an Ealing Studios filing cabinet, this is so awash with whimsy that the comedy only occasionally manages to bob to the surface. But, while it's not an uproarious laughfest, there's still plenty to enjoy as the dependable Terry-Thomas masterminds a series of robberies for his gang of old dears in order to raise money for a children's home. Athene Seyler, Elspeth Duxbury and Hattie Jacques are good value as the respectable rogues, and Kenneth Williams is fun as their fence. But Billie Whitelaw is less convincing as the reformed delinquent shocked by their antics.
Enjoyable comedy, expertly performed.
I don't think I have seen Billie Whitelaw in a film before, but I have heard of her often enough.A most enjoyable film - it never seems to drag and it's not corny. If I had not rented this, I might never have seen it. TV seems to show the same old films.Worth every penny.
This film is a real gem. Some great lines that must have been quite risqué at the time. Loved it when TT asks Hattie how Billie walks that way!