Only When I Larf

Just saw this on Talking Pictures TV, which shows old films and TV. And some of their content is well wort watching, albeit from yesteryear, but of course in with some good stuff are some right clunkers, and this is one. I see one reviewer calls it "well worth watching" -- Lord knows why.

The paper called it a 'comedy' in the TV listings, I presume they think Chekhov was a riot of one-liners and gags?

This is a 60s caper movie, several episodes of con-men playing tricks, and it's the most dreadful tosh -- I've no idea why anyone would care about any character, and I'd guess that any audience for it were misled by Len Deighton's name, and the lead actors. The players to be fair do their best (though Hemmings always seemed to me to play the same character), and as several have said, those off camera know their stuff.

But it's all essentially pointless, and very hard to care what happens at all. And for anyone who thinks that it might be worth a look, due to the 'comedy' description, well, don't expect Cary Grant or P G Wodehouse. I think it's probable the 'Larf' in the title was satire, it certainly wasn't accurate. Oddly enough there was a TV sitcom (UK) of the same name, set in a hospital, with Richard Wilson (later Victor Meldrew), James Bolam (Likely Lads), and Peter Bowles (lots of things). That WAS quite funny, but don't get it muddled with this twaddle!