Two Way Stretch (1960)

Director:

Robert Day

Writers:

John Warren (original story and screenplay) and
Len Heath (original story and screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 December 1960 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

Peter Sellers has planned the perfect robbery while in prison. He intends to break out of prison, steal a fortune in diamonds...

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Robbery | Prison Farm | Prison Break | Cat

Cast

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
Andrew Downie	...	Garden Warder
William Abney	...	Visiting Room Warder
Thorley Walters	...	Col. Parkright
John Wood	...	Captain
Robert James	...	Police Superintendent
Walter Hudd	...	Rev. Patterson
Mario Fabrizi	...	Jones
Warren Mitchell	...	Tailor
John Glyn-Jones	...	Lawyer
Arthur Mullard	...	Fred
Vivienne Martin	...	Fred's Wife
Joe Gibbons	...	Dustman
Ian Wilson	...	Milkman
Edward Dentith	...	Detective
John Harvey	...	Governor Rockhampton Prison
Johnny Vyvyan	...	Shorthouse (as John Vyvyen)
Harry Littlewood	...	Postman
Homi Bode	...	Court Chamberlain
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Abe Barker	...	Sam - Oldest Inhabitant (uncredited)
Robert Day	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Jack Dearlove	...	Train Station Guard (uncredited)
Olga Dickie	...	Woman in Pub (uncredited)
Tony Doonan	...	Prisoner in Garden (uncredited)
Eynon Evans	...	Solicitor (uncredited)
Larry Taylor	...	Rockingham Quarry Prison Warder (uncredited)
Hedger Wallace	...	Detective (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Day

Writing credits
John Warren		(original story and screenplay) and
Len Heath		(original story and screenplay)
Alan Hackney		(additional dialogue)
Vivian Cox		uncredited

Produced by
E.M. Smedley-Aston	....	producer (as M. Smedley Aston)

Original Music by
Ken Jones

Cinematography by
Geoffrey Faithfull		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Bert Rule

Casting by
Paul Sheridan		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
John Box

Makeup Department
Jimmy Evans	....	makeup artist
Joyce James	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Harold Buck	....	production supervisor
Jacques de Lane Lea	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kip Gowans	....	assistant director
John Danischewsky	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Roy Rossotti	....	assistant art director (as Roy Rosotti)
Roger Cain	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
John Graysmark	....	set designer (uncredited)
Wallis Smith	....	chief draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Maurice Askew	....	sound recordist
Paddy Cunningham	....	sound recordist
Teddy Mason	....	dubbing editor (as Ted Mason)
Charles Wheeler	....	boom operator (uncredited)
George Widdows	....	sound maintenance (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Drake	....	camera operator
John Deaton	....	clapper loader (uncredited)
Norman Hargood	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Dennis C. Lewiston	....	focus puller (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
John Irwin	....	wardrobe assistant (uncredited)
Bob Rayner	....	wardrobe master (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Alan Bell	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
David Block	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Ken Jones	....	conductor

Other crew
Lee Turner	....	continuity
Arthur Cleaver	....	production accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Vale Film Productions
• John Harvel Productions
• Shepperton Productions
• Tudor Productions

Distributors

• British Lion Film Corporation (1960) (UK) (theatrical)
• Showcorporation (1961) (USA) (theatrical)
• Europa-Filmverleih AG (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Momentum Pictures Home Entertainment (2001) (UK) (DVD)
• Optimum Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Sogemedia (2008) (Spain) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (1989) (UK) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

78 min | 87 min (TCM Print)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording)

Certification:

Australia:G | Finland:S | UK:U

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Vale Film Productions

Trivia:

Robert James is dubbed

Goofs:

Plot holes: 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.

Movie Connections:

References Breakout (1959)

"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?