No Sex Please - We're British

Here is filmed adaptation of famous English sex farce, or comedic play that was panned by critics but proved so popular that it became one of longest running stageplays in theater.

The story is pretty simple about a couple, David Hunter and his wife Penny who live in the apartment upstairs from Davids workplace, a bank, but due to a mix up of addresses they get mistaken for a pornshop and starts receiving porn that they never ordered.

At same time Davids boss starts anti porn campaign and to add even more problems, Davids mother comes to visit, while David, his wife and co worker Brian Runnicles try to get rid of all the porn....

This an oldfashioned kind of comedy, lots sexual innuendos, slapstick gags, and misunderstandings that will lead to even more comedic results.

Nothing new, but has an incredible charm, mainly thanks to the talented actors like, Ronnie Corbett who plays Brian Runnicles. Corbetts offers amazing ability for slapstick gags and steals almost every scenes he is in.

Together with Ian Ogilvy(David Hunter), Susan Penhaligon(Penny Hunter), they form a strong trio in the center.

But the jokes are old and dusty, and makes any screwball comedy by Howard Hawks, Preston Sturges, to look sharper and more update.

However, future viewers only looking for little bit of lighthearted fun and entertainment should look at this one, it will make you smile.

Being a Ronnie Corbett picture, this one's quite respectable. Unlike those tacky so-called 'sex comedies', there's no nudity in this and it's got a proper story. It's one of those hectic running around a lot farces, full of clichés, including the outraged vicar.

Besides befuddled Ronnie Corbett, we have a very funny performance from the nice, respectable young couple: Ian Ogilvy and Susan Penhaligan whose nice respectable flat obviously gets mistaken as a drop off point for dirty books, dirty movies, a fuddy-duddy mother, a bank manager , several confused policemen and a couple of prostitutes.

Turning a live theatre farce into a picture is never going to capture the energy and engagement of a live performance. It's never going to be as funny. This however isn't a bad adaptation. Sharing the same space as the performers in a theatre is a different experience to watching something on a screen so bring this to life, John Gale, who wrote the play did a superb job in creating a proper comedy film, not just a filmed stage play.

No Sex Please, We're British was a long-running stage farce that had audiences in stitches night after night with its spiralling absurdity and honest vulgarity, but the makers of this film adaptation failed to grasp that what may work brilliantly on stage, where the adrenalin levels of the actors are boosted throughout by the enthusiasm of a live audience, simply looks strained and overwrought on film. (This is why none of Frankie Howerd's film roles worked - without an audience to react to his innuendo and dithering, he was sunk.) But hang on a minute - I can't completely dismiss this film, however much of a misfire it is, because at least we have Susan Penhaligon at her cutest; Ian Ogilvy preparing for his role as Grayson the bully in the TV series 'Ripping Yarns'; Arthur Lowe, Michael Bates and Beryl Reid being pompous as only they can; lots of familiar TV and film faces who'll have you rushing to the IMDb (why do you think I'm writing this!) or, in the absence of internet access, arguing amongst your family and friends; and the eye-pleasing pairing of Valerie Leon and Margaret Nolan (both Carry On regulars) as a pair of classy call-girls who spend a lot of time in various states of undress! The credits mention Deryck Guyler, but he certainly wasn't in the broadcast version I watched - so either he was cut from the film but not the credits, or the TV company ditched his scene to accommodate some commercials. It's not a total waste of time, but Ronnie Corbett was never meant to be Brian Runnicles (Tim Brooke-Taylor would have been better) and large stretches go by with nary a chuckle. Still, it's a pleasant enough souvenir of sillier, more innocent times, and it livens up considerably towards the end - just stay with it.

This is pretty dreadful and unfunny which is unfortunate as the cast has some great names. Ronnie Corbett tries his best in the lead role but the script is poor. Michael Robbins (On The Buses) is rather wasted as a car driver with only two small scenes. I think Ian Ogilvy is miscast as he's just not funny. Arthur Lowe is excellent as you might expect and Susan Penhaligon is very natural and looks like she's enjoying the whole thing. Interesting to see Michael Bates (It Ain't Half Hot Mum) in a relatively straight role while Beryl Reid sleepwalks through her part. For me though the most interesting thing is the shots (there are many) of Windsor town. Windsor was the location for Carry On films Cabby and Loving and Norman Wisdom's On The Beat.

I wasn't expecting much from this film, but I was pretty surprised at the laughs it got from me. The film is quite dated in a 70's sex farce way, but that also works well in its favour for retro buffs and Carry On fans. The pace is a little plodding to begin with, but picks up well after 20 minutes and really carries a fast pace through to the end.

The plot (like it's important) centres around dodgy pornography being sent to a bank by accident with predictably hilarious consequences...

British viewers will also have fun spotting the large amount of well known names in the film (Ronnie Corbett, Arthur Lowe, David Swift, Frank Thornton, A bloke from On the Buses etc), who all put in good comedy turns. Plus, being a sex farce, you also get to see Valerie Leon and Margeret Nolan running round in their smalls. Bonus!

Definately one to watch with a beer on a bank holiday monday...

A good 7.