The Sandwich Man (1966 film)

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The Sandwich Man
File:"The Sandwich Man" (1966).jpg
Film Poster
Directed byRobert Hartford-Davis
Written byMichael Bentine
Robert Hartford-Davis
Produced byPeter Newbrook
StarringMichael Bentine
Dora Bryan
Harry H. Corbett
CinematographyPeter Newbrook
Edited byPeter Taylor
Music byMike Vickers
Production
company
Titan International Pictures
Distributed byRank Film Distributors
Release date
July 1966
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£214,452[1]

The Sandwich Man is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis and written by Hartford-Davis and Michael Bentine. The film also stars Bentine, with support from Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Norman Wisdom, Terry Thomas, Ian Hendry and numerous other British character actors.

Plot synopsis

Bentine takes the leading role, playing Horace Quilby, a mild-mannered widower living in the London Docklands. His job as a sandwich-board man requires him to wander around London immaculately wearing morning dress (top hat and tails) and carrying advertisements. He is also secretary of the Sandwichmen's Brotherhood. But his real interest in life is pigeon racing, especially 'Esmerelda', who is racing from Bordeaux to London, so Horace keeps calling at places on his route to see if there is any news.[2]

The action takes place on the streets of London with the atmosphere being quite colourful with red London Transport RT buses often in view together with all manner of vehicles (cars and vans) from saloons and hansom cab taxis to chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royces.[3]

During the course of one day, Quilby encounters a host of eccentric characters, who are played by some of Britain's best known comedy and character actors, and becomes involved in a series of capers:-

  • There is an overloaded Mini Moke with a troubled scout leader behind the wheel but getting nowhere fast;
  • Along comes a policeman riding a motorcycle who has had better days;
  • One mildly amusing sequence follows another with plenty of stars - an ensemble cast - fleetingly doing their scene and sometimes just appearing in a background or cameo role;[4]

But the main story thread sees Quilby reunite Sue (Suzy Kendall), a young model, with her errant boyfriend Steven (David Buck).

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

Cast

Production

The film was the second in a short lived series of co productions between the NFFC and Rank.[5] Diana Dors had recently moved back to London after several years in the USA.[6]

Reception

The film was poorly received at the time of its release, critically and commercially,[7] but has since achieved some attention especially for its backdrop of London in the Swinging Sixties.

References

  1. ^ Petrie p 10
  2. ^ Best Of British magazine; September 2022 issue; Page 65
  3. ^ Best of British magazine; September 2022 issue; Page 65
  4. ^ Best of British magazine; September 2022 issue; Page 65
  5. ^ Petrie p 7-8
  6. ^ Vagg, Stephen (7 September 2020). "A Tale of Two Blondes: Diana Dors and Belinda Lee". Filmink.
  7. ^ Petrie p 13-14

Notes

External links

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