Man About the House

Caught on ITV hub. This film (c.1974) adaptation of the 1970's TV series has a storyline that might be remarkably prescient for the 21st century.

A property developer is buying up the series of Edwardian terraces on Myddleton terrace, one of which Robin Tripp, Chrissy and Jo occupy. Their landlord's being George (Brian Murphy) and Mildred (Yootha Joyce). The right thinking trio mount a petition to halt the development and there the story begins in earnest. I did feel that the storyline somewhat petered out, this was clearly a spin-off from the popular tv series and I'm not sure it was completely pulled off in that regard.

Love the locations and 70's era comedy - which despite the 'prevailing attitudes of its time' shows remarkably strong female characters getting one up on the male protagonists.

Saw it again recently only they cut out the banter between George and Rudolph Walker and Jack Smethurst, Brian Murphy was later in last of the summer wine only he was the same character and no longer called George

MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE is another Hammer Films version of a popular TV series, this time about the misadventures of a trio of twentysomethings sharing an apartment in London. I took an instant dislike to this film thanks to the lank-haired layabout lead, Richard O'Sullivan, who seems to spend his whole time putting down women and coming out with un-PC humour.

The film as a whole doesn't transfer to the format as well as Hammer's ON THE BUSES trilogy and it feels instead rather like a padded-out episode of the TV show. The loose storyline involves some unscrupulous developers attempting to knock down the abode of our characters, so they decide to fight back. Some very broad comedy, involving endless games of strip poker and monopoly and laxatives, follows.

The humour is sometimes funny but seems to be rather mild and restrained for the most part, although it does have its moments. The romance stuff between the leads is pretty boring, although it is fun to see Sally Thomsett (THE RAILWAY CHILDREN) playing somebody her own age just four years after masquerading as a kid in that childhood classic. As ever, the endless cameos (Bill Pertwee, Bill Maynard, Arthur Lowe, Spike Milligan) are the highlight here.

December 2021

Just watched this again, i must say i had forgotten just how likeable this classic British comedy was and its full of very recognisable faces.

This film and TV series unusually lead to 2 spin off series, Robins Nest as well as George and Mildred!

Fun film

8 out of 10.

I have always been a big fan of the TV series Man About the House, and have in recent years watched many episodes again on DVD. They are still funny, with many laugh out loud moments.

Well I have finally seen the movie version.

All the main cast and the semi regular Doug Fisher (Larry) appear. The chemistry between the characters largely remains, but the filmed format with muted colours, wider-framed shots and no studio audience, gives the film a less intimate feel. When compared to the original video of the series, much of the warmth and cosiness seems missing.

But the film's main problem is that the story is much too thin (much the same premise as the TV episode "We Shall Not Be Moved") for a feature film. There are no real sub-plots, just the one main story which occupies all the characters. Therefore there is much padding and repetition, and the jokes and situations are all drawn out, weakening their impact and slowing the pace of the film. With the meandering pace, none of the elements really work. The jokes, drawn out within the longer scenes of a feature film, mostly fall flat.

The film opens out the action, introducing some other residents of the row of houses, but these characters (the effeminate gay couple, the lusty nympho, the kept mistress) are such obvious stereotypes that they don't really work. Likewise the location shots like Larry's hazardous driving fail to add much.