Two Way Stretch (1960)

Peter Sellers has planned the perfect robbery while in prison. He intends to break out of prison, steal a fortune in diamonds, and break back into prison before anyone notices. With only a ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Day

Writers:

John Warren (original story and screenplay), Len Heath (original story and screenplay),

Stars:

Peter Sellers, David Lodge, Bernard Cribbins

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Sellers	...	Dodger Lane
David Lodge	...	Jelly Knight
Bernard Cribbins	...	Lennie Price
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Soapy Stevens (as Wilfrid Hyde White)
Maurice Denham	...	The Governor
Lionel Jeffries	...	Chief P.O. Crout
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Price
Liz Fraser	...	Ethel
Beryl Reid	...	Miss Pringle
Noel Hood	...	Miss Prescott
Myrette Morven	...	Miss Meakin
George Woodbridge	...	Chief P.O. Jenkins
Edwin Brown	...	Warder Charlie
Cyril Chamberlain	...	Gate Warder - Day
Wallas Eaton	...	Gate Warder - Night

Storyline

Peter Sellers has planned the perfect robbery while in prison. He intends to break out of prison, steal a fortune in diamonds, and break back into prison before anyone notices. With only a few days sentence left, and the perfect alibi - what could possibly go wrong ?

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Plot Keywords:

prison | robbery | prison farm | prison break | cat | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1960 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Die grüne Minna

Filming Locations:

Fittleworth station - disused, Fittleworth, West Sussex, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vale Film Productions, John Harvel Productions, Shepperton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min 87 min (TCM Print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Liz Fraser (Ethel) was still learning to drive at the time the film was made. In the scene where Ethel follows the army convoy in an Aston Martin, she kept stalling as she set off on cue, so ropes were attached to the front of the car, out of shot, and it was towed.

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Goofs

The prisoners are able to escape from their cell by removing the pins from the hinges. For obvious reasons real cell doors do not have hinges on the inside.

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Connections

References Convict 99 (1938)

User Reviews

"Basket weaving? - I'll get you baskets weaving...!"

Despite "Two way stretch" usually being described as a "Peter Sellers film" it is an ensemble piece featuring some of the best British character actors of the 1950s and 60s.Maurice Denham,George Woodbridge,Thorley Walters,Wilfred Hyde-White and the wonderful Lionel Jefferies decorate this movie.Mr Jefferies in particular was never better than as CPO Crout the slightly mad successor to the kind-hearted veteran George Woodbridge. "Basket weaving?.....I'll get you baskets weaving !" he rants on being told that the cons are being taught that country craft. The usual lovable Cockneys and middle-class dunderheads make up the rest of the cast. It is the sort of film knocked out in a few weeks for silly money that the British Film Industry once excelled at.It wasn't "Great Art" but it was great fun.Now you need millions from the Lottery to make something a first-year Film Studies person would leave on the cutting-room floor. "Two way stretch " had no sex,no violence and no bad language,three of the requisites for comedy writers these days.It still makes a lot of people laugh.Not many modern comedies do.Is this a "Duh" moment?