Writers: Phillip Oakes, Tony Hancock
Composers: Don Banks, Derek Scott
Starring: Tony Hancock, Sylvia Syms, Ronald Fraser, Barbara Murray, John Le Mesurier, Hugh Lloyd, Mario Fabrizi, Pauline Jameson, Eddie Byrne, Michael Ripper
More info: IMDb
Tagline: Hancock rebels again!
Plot: Dark comedy about a seaside Punch and Judy man driven to distraction by his social climbing wife and his hatred for the snobbery of local government. He is persuaded to go to the Mayor's gala evening but it's all too much for him.
My rating: 6/10
Will I watch it again? No.
For years I'd heard of Tony Hancock as being one of the giants in British comedy. I've only ever seen one other of his pictures and that was THE REBEL (1961). I liked it. So I was looking forward to seeing what else he did and picked this one up. Its mildly amusing. At its best, the ice cream shop scene had me in stitches with the near wordless exchange between Wally (Hancock) and the clerk.
That bit was hilarious and it was the only time I laughed out loud. Otherwise, it's a pleasant enough of a time killer. I took more pleasure out of seeing the many character actors I'm fond of than anything else. The seaside location was nice. We spend the first hour anticipating the big gala Wally has to attend knowing that he's dreading it. Something big and funny is surely to happen, right? The finale was lackluster and the payoff was sadly about how most of what came before it had been. Ho hum.
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