Double Bunk
| Double Bunk | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | C.M. Pennington-Richards |
| Produced by | George H. Brown |
| Starring |
Ian Carmichael Sid James Janette Scott Liz Fraser Dennis Price |
| Music by | Stanley Black |
| Cinematography | Stephen Dade |
| Edited by | John D. Guthridge |
| Distributed by | Bryanston |
Release dates | 30 March 1961 (London West End) |
Running time | 92 min |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Double Bunk is a 1961 British black-and-white comedy set on a houseboat, that stars Ian Carmichael and Sid James.[1]
The musical score was composed by Stanley Black and the title song, sung by Sid James and Liz Fraser, was by Stanley Black, Jack Fishman and Michael Pratt.
Plot
When newlyweds Jack (Ian Carmichael) and Peggy (Janette Scott) face eviction from their rented London flat, they are tricked into buying a rundown houseboat by its current owner Alfred Harper (Reginald Beckwith) and his put-upon wife (Irene Handl). Mr Watson (Dennis Price) owns Jack and Peggy’s mooring and soon makes their acquaintance by introducing them to his mooring tariffs and associated surcharges.
After rebuilding the engine with the help of his friend Sid (Sid James), a used-car salesman, Jack and Peggy plan a trip down the Thames River to Ramsgate, taking along Sid and his partner Sandra (Liz Fraser). On their way, they get into trouble with the Thames Conservancy (Naunton Wayne) and also the river police (Terry Scott).
After Sandra's transistor radio gets misplaced next to the compass, they manage to end up in Calais. With no fuel and supplies, they have to resort to desperate actions to get themselves and their houseboat back home. This involves Sandra putting on a striptease for Watson, who also happens to be in Calais Harbour on his own boat, to enable Jack and Sid to borrow some of Watson’s fuel and food. The next morning, they follow Watson back across the Channel, as their own compass is broken, and end up entering into a wager with Watson on who can get back to their mooring first. They win the bet when Watson's boat runs aground
Background
The "Jasmine Cot" boat was actually "Joan Mary", an Admiralty 48 foot "Personnel Launch, Diesel" conversion. She was based at Newmans Shipyard, 1, Strawberry Vale, Twickenham. She was owned at the time by Mr. C Perfect. I know this because "Joan Mary" was home to me and my parents and they sold her to Mr. Perfect. Needless to say, all the tophamper was added just for the filming.
Release
The film opened at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End on 30 March 1961 and went on general release in the UK on 8 May 1961.
Cast
- Ian Carmichael as Jack
- Janette Scott as Peggy
- Sid James as Sid
- Liz Fraser as Sandra
- Dennis Price as Watson
- Reginald Beckwith as Harper
- Irene Handl as Mrs. Harper
- Noel Purcell as O'Malley
- Naunton Wayne as Thames Conservancy Officer
- Bill Shine as Thames Conservancy Officer
- Michael Shepley as Granville-Carter
- Miles Malleson as Rev. Thomas
- Gerald Campion as Charlie
- John Harvey as Johnnie
- Graham Stark as Flowerman
- Tom Gill as Customs Officer
- Gladys Henson as Mme. de Sola
- Willoughby Goddard as Prospective Purchaser
- Marianne Stone as Prospective Purchaser
- Jacques Cey as French Official
- Toby Perkins as Pukka Type
- Hedger Wallace as 1st River Policeman
- Terry Scott as 2nd River Policeman
- Desmond Roberts as Freighter Captain
- Peter Swanwick as Freighter Pilot
Critical reception
- The New York Times called it an "extremely anemic little British comedy." [2]
- The Spinning Image called it "a gently amusing feel-good comedy that chugs along nicely...You know you're in for a good time as soon as Double Bunk's opening credits kick in accompanied by a jaunty ditty sung by co-stars Sid James and Liz Fraser" [3]
- Britmovie wrote, "the supporting cast is a veritable treasure trove of familiar faces, including Sid James, Naunton Wayne, Liz Fraser, Irene Handl, Miles Malleson and Noel Purcell and Dennis Price." [4]
References
- ↑ "Double Bunk (1961) | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
- ↑ Howard Thompson (1961-11-17). "Movie Review - Double Bunk - 'Double Bunk' Shown". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
- ↑ "Double Bunk Review (1961)". Thespinningimage.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-25.
- ↑ "Double Bunk 1961 | Britmovie | Home of British Films". Britmovie. Retrieved 2014-07-25.