Confessions of a Driving Instructor

Between the miserable kitchen sink dramas of the 60s and the depressing social realism movies of the 80s, British cinema gave us the wonderful 'Confessions' sex-farces—a series of silly comedies which glossed over such trifles as the 3 day week, endless power cuts, unemployment, and industrial action to bring UK cinema-goers the simpler delights of the three 'b's—bums, boobs and bush.

Confessions of a Driving Instructor, the third in the bawdy series, once again sees Robin Askwith as cheeky chappie Timmy Lea, an instructor at a driving school owned by brother-in-law Sidney (Anthony Booth). Despite having a particularly gormless mug, women inexplicably throw themselves at Timmy, and his new profession provides him with endless opportunities to get his leg over with a bevy of beautiful babes, including his sexy landlady (busty Liz Fraser), her equally up-for-it daughter, eager first student Miss Hargreaves (the stunning Suzy Mandel), posh crumpet Lady Snodley, and even Mary (Bisto mum, Lynda Bellingham), the awfully nice daughter of business rival Mr Truscott (Windsor Davies).

Cue lots of sexual innuendo ("shall we try the 69 together?", says Bellingam before opening a bottle of wine), plenty of Benny Hill style speeded-up shagging, and much full frontal nudity from Timmy's conquests (although we only get a single boob from Bellingham, whilst Fraser is content to just wear some sexy lingerie). For fans of un-PC humour, there's also a tad of working class racism and a touch of homophobia for good measure ("you dirty queer... no wonder they call you Bender" shouts Windsor's character at his lackey).

Although it certainly isn't the most sophisticated film to have emerged from Elstree studios, Driving Instructor is still a very enjoyable movie—a cinematic time-capsule from the decade of wife-swapping, dolly birds, flared jeans, X-certificate movies, and Ford Cortinas, and one that even occasionally manages to be every bit as revealing about British folk as its more serious cinematic counterparts.

CONFESSIONS OF A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR one for all lovers of highbrow comedy, witty, clever, cool, incisive in it almost devastating portrait of 1970's working class life - Mike Leigh and Ken Loach's films have nothing on this one, obvious inspiration for the later comedies of Richard Curtis - don't worry, just joking - instead it's a very broad unembarrassed Carry On style comedy - If you hate the Carry On's,WATCH SOMETHING ELSE. For the rest of us, there's some great talent on display - and not just in a female sense - Windsor Davies, Avril Angers, the great Irene Handl, Doris Hare, Donald Hewlett, Geoffrey Hughes, George Layton, to name but a few - Best of all is Liz Fraser as the very lusty landlady Mrs Chalmers - She's one landlady who would have no trouble getting her rent - a stunning looking woman, even as here at the age of 43 - very underrated character actress as well - pity she's not seen more these days. She would be a natural now for playing the sort of part that the great Irene plays in this one ( The splendidly named Miss Slenderparts ). See Liz in a later Minder episode, if you have any doubts. Also watch out for Sally Adez as the female instructor - wow, what a babe!. On a trivia note another great character, Sam Kydd featured in the first cut of the film as Mr Gilson but was cut out to bring the running time down to 90 minutes. So give it a chance !.

It's st. Stephen's Day / Boxing day, and I'm so bored I'm watching Driving Instructor again.

Delighted to see Malchwriter (comment above) get the little add-in bits which highlight why the entire Carry On and Confessions series were such a turning point for British cinema. We might have grown up on them, but Elstree was financially screwed shortly thereafter. Brian Rix did farces which were silly but funny, Confessions is a sort of a farce but wasn't really, and in the '90's 'Allo 'Allo resurrected the entire genre to devastating effect.

But on to why I'd watch it again. Was Sally Adez the girl who passed Robin Askwith as an Instructor (only noticed her name because of "Malchwriter")?. If so, her underwear is a wonderful example of why the '60's and '70's could be so much fun. And Lis Frazer's appearance early on in the film (while the daughter is otherwise engaged) - Beautiful.

Another reviewer might have said the Confessions films were cr*p. Driving Instructor is arguably the least worst of the series, but they are one star pictures - if not Bombs. I find this film worth a look for historical interest. Anthony Booth is always dreadful; Robin Askwith a bit more likeable.

This is more of the same in this series of four films starring Robin Askwith as Timothy Lea. In this film, he becomes a driving instructor (the opening sequence in how he becomes one is predictable but funny) and works for Sid (Anthony Booth), his brother in law. There is lots of nudity (even a Scottish Pipe Band gets stripped!), but this film benefits from supporting roles, most notably Irene Handl as Miss Slenderpants, vying to finally get her license after 43 tries and Liz Fraser, still sexy and fun. This is a check your brains at the door sex comedy, but to me its the best of the four, since it doesn't rely only on the sexual escapades. Films like this were hugely popular then, so it was successful. Its not bad.