Wikipedia

The Sandwich Man (1966 film)

For other uses, see Sandwich man (disambiguation).

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]

The Sandwich Man
Theatrical release 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 (1966-07)
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£214,452[1] or £189,334[2]

Plot synopsis

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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

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Production

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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

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

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Robert Hartford-Davis' direction displays an astonishing lack of imagination – hackneyed cutting, elementary slips in continuity (blue sky giving way to grey in consecutive shots), and virtually every scene being introduced by having the camera tilt down familiar London landmarks. What little narrative there is stops dead at regular intervals to allow what amounts to a veritable Who's Who of British character actors to perform while Michael Bentine stands sadly watching on the sidelines. Up to the minute, trend-setting, cosmopolitan London is here revealed in a series of British comedy clichés (excitable Indians, chirpy cockney housewives, absentminded aristocrats) and in an absurdly pretentious slow motion wrestling match behind the end titles. The Sandwich Man is the second film to be made under the auspices of the N.F.F.C./Rank scheme to aid independent producers: one can only hope that the schemes future films will be better than this."[4]

Variety said: "Spotty pic. ... Gags and situations do not add up to useful comedy."[5]

Kine Weekly called the film a "hilarious romp in colour through London."[6]

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."[7]

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."[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 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". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 33 (384): 142. 1 January 1966 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ "The Sandwich Man". Variety. 243 (13): 16. 17 August 1966.
  6. ^ "The Sandwich Man". Kine Weekly. 587 (3060): 3. 26 May 1966.
  7. ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 881. ISBN 0-586-08894-6.
  8. ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 802. ISBN 9780992936440.
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