Only Two Can Play (1962)

Director:

Sidney Gilliat

Writers:

Bryan Forbes (screenplay)
Kingsley Amis (novel)

Release Date:

20 March 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

John Lewis is bored by his librarian's job and henpecked at home. Then Liz, wife of a local counciller...

Plot Keywords:

Welsh Valleys | Librarian | Carrying Woman | Convertible | Betrayal By Friend

Awards:

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	John Lewis
Mai Zetterling	...	Liz
Virginia Maskell	...	Jean Lewis
Kenneth Griffith	...	Ieuan Jenkins (as Kenneth Griffiths)
Raymond Huntley	...	Vernon
David Davies	...	Benyon
Maudie Edwards	...	Mrs. Edna Davies
Meredith Edwards	...	Clergyman on the Committee
John Le Mesurier	...	Salter
Frederick Piper	...	Mr. Davies
Graham Stark	...	Hyman
Eynon Evans	...	Town Hall Clerk
John Arnatt	...	Bill
Sheila Manahan	...	Mrs. Jenkins
Richard Attenborough	...	Gareth L. Probert

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:L | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Mayhill, Swansea, Wales, UK

Company:

Vale Film Productions

Trivia:

Presumably due to the depiction in the film, Swansea Library would not give permission for filming. The film uses the Glynn Vivian art gallery, directly over the road, for exteriors instead.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pretty Girl in Library: Good morning. Have you "Conditioned Reflexes"?
John Lewis: Uh...
Pretty Girl in Library: It's by Pavlov.
John Lewis: Yes... It's out at the moment but if you'd like to leave your name, I could reserve it for you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000) (TV)

Peter Sellers in one of his more serious characterizations

I was not surprised to see that this movie was based on the black humour of Kingsley Amis. Do not expect from Sellers the slapstick farce of the Pink Panther days or the sparkling multiple personalities of the "Mouse that Roared" or the radio Goon shows. Instead, here is a believable person whose comedy arises from his all-too-human reaction to the situation in which he finds himself.

The "usual suspects" put up fine character performances, there are funny moments enough. If the movie is not quite the comic equal of "I'm All Right Jack", or other Sellers movies of the early 60s, perhaps it is because the comedy and its resolution are a little too conventional to show Sellers at his best. It is still worth watching to see Sellers at his best as a serious actor.

As another comment mentioned, the black-&-white filming is also just right for the subject.