Down Among the Z Men (1952)

The cast of the popular radio program "The Goon Show" perform some of their favourite routines.

Director:

Maclean Rogers

Writers:

Francis Charles, Jimmy Grafton

Stars:

Harry Secombe, Michael Bentine, Spike Milligan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Harry Secombe	...	Harry Jones
Michael Bentine	...	Prof. Osrick Purehart
Spike Milligan	...	Pvt. Eccles
Peter Sellers	...	Major Bloodnok
Carole Carr	...	Carole Gayley
Twelve Toppers	...	(as Leslie Roberts' Twelve Toppers)
Clifford Stanton	...	Stanton
Robert Cawdron	...	Sergeant Bullshine
Andrew Timothy	...	Captain Evans
Graham Stark	...	Spider
Russ Allen
Elizabeth Kearns	...	Girl in Shop
Miriam Karlin	...	Woman in Shop
Sidney Vivian	...	Landlord
Howell Evans

Storyline

Professor Pure Heart absentmindedly loses the top secret formula in Harry Jones' Grocery Shop. "Bats of the Yard", as Harry calls himself, finds it and proudly attempts to return it to the Professor.

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Plot Keywords:

goon show | lingerie slip

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1952 (UK)

Also Known As:

Stand Easy

Company Credits

Production Co:

E.J. Fancey Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Stanton, one of the soldiers, does an impersonation of Danny Kaye.

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Crazy Credits

(opening credit) E. J. Fancey has the misfortune to inflict ...

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Soundtracks

"If This Is Love"
(uncredited)
Music by Jack Jordan
Lyrics by James Douglas (i.e. Jimmy Grafton)
Performed by Carole Carr

User Reviews

Historical Interest

Although poor by today's standards it should be noted that this movie is the first time all the major characters of the Goon Show had worked together on screen. They had not yet worked out which routines worked well in radio but not in a movie. They would do better in subsequent efforts. It helps if the viewer knows something of the Goon Show radio series and, perhaps, has seen the TV series too. Making the transition from a radio program, where the listener's imagination supplies the scenery, to a television or film style is always difficult. The film has its moments, especially the chorus girl's dance routines and a flash-of-brilliance preview of Peter Seller's exceptional talent as he makes fun of an American general and his Staff Seargent under siege by the Germans. It's also apparent why Michael Bentine did not last long as a star although Jerry Lewis must have used this as a training film.