The Amorous Prawn (1962)

User Rating:

5.3/10   

Director:

Anthony Kimmins

Writers:

Anthony Kimmins (screenplay)
Nicholas Phipps (screenplay)

Release Date:

26 November 1962 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

General and Lady Fitzadam live at a remote army outpost in Scotland, their last assignment before the General retires...

Plot Keywords:

Army | Based On Play | Independent Film | Character Name In Title

Cast

Ian Carmichael	...	Cpl. Sidney Green
Joan Greenwood	...	Lady Dodo Fitzadam
Cecil Parker	...	Gen. Sir Hamish Fitzadam
Dennis Price	...	Prawn (Mr. Vernon)
Robert Beatty	...	Larry Hoffman
Liz Fraser	...	Pvt. Suzie Tidmarsh
Finlay Currie	...	Lochaye
Robert Nichols	...	Sam Goulansky
Bridget Armstrong	...	Pvt. Biddy O'Hara
Harry Locke	...	Albert Huggin
Derek Nimmo	...	Pvt. Willie Maltravers
Roddy McMillan	...	Pvt. McTavish
Sandra Dorne	...	Busty Babs
Michael Ripper	...	Angus
Roberta Desti	...	Jeweller's Assistant

Also Known As:

The Amorous Mr. Prawn (USA)
The Playgirl and the War Minister

Runtime:

USA:89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Covent Garden Films Ltd.

Funny in parts, but dated

The title has very little to do with anything. The "amorous prawn" is a character who appears late in the story and acts as a catalyst to solve the rather silly plot strands. The film probably kept the title because the comedy had been a long-running West End hit. The plot is quite thin: a general's wife, desperate to raise a few hundred to buy a retirement cottage, takes advantage of her husband's absence on official business to take in two Americans as paying guests. Her military staff dress up as butlers, maids etc and remove giveaways like the sentry box at the gate. The Americans are caricatured: though friendly and warm, they molest the staff and hand out huge tips and even require (the cads!) central heating. There's a lot of running about, giggling and flashes of underwear. The real enjoyment is provided by the comic skills of Ian Carmichael doing a butler act, Liz Fraser as his girlfriend, Cecil Parker and Joan Greenwood as the general and wife, and Derek Niimmo as a less than 100 per cent he-man chef. Back in 1962 homosexual acts were still criminal and gay characters were a big joke. When Niimmo gets engaged to one of the girls, Carmichael shakes his hand (which is obviously limp) and says "I didn't think you were the marrying kind!" Mr Prawn is another "comic" stereotype of the time: ex-RAF with bristling moustache, well-off, dressed smartly in blazer and gold cufflinks, middle-aged but still chasing young girls. It's all a bit naughty, ho ho! The shenanigans end abruptly with the help of some Scots waving salmon. Well, the West End audience must have had trains to catch. xxxxx