The Intelligence Men (1965)

A chance meeting with a Schlecht agent forces a humble coffee shop manager into the secret world of spies in Swinging London. With the help of his MI5 friend, he poses as the recently dead ... See full summary »

Director:

Robert Asher

Writers:

Sidney Green (screenplay), Richard Hills (screenplay),

Stars:

Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise, William Franklyn

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Morecambe	...	Eric Morecambe
Ernie Wise	...	Ernie Sage
William Franklyn	...	Colonel Grant
April Olrich	...	Madame Petrovna
Gloria Paul	...	Gina Carlotti
Richard Vernon	...	Sir Edward Seabrook
David Lodge	...	Stage Manager
Jacqueline Jones	...	Karin
Terence Alexander	...	Reed
Francis Matthews	...	Thomas
Warren Mitchell	...	Prozoroff
Brian Oulton	...	Laundry Basket Man
Michael Peake	...	Sinister Stranger
Peter Bull	...	Philippe
Tutte Lemkow	...	Seedy Schlecht Agent

Storyline

A chance meeting with a Schlecht agent forces a humble coffee shop manager into the secret world of spies in Swinging London. With the help of his MI5 friend, he poses as the recently dead Major Cavendish who had managed to infiltrate the dreaded organization; he knows that they are intending to assassinate someone - could it be the famous Russian ballerina who has recently arrived for an appearance at Covent Garden?

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Plot Keywords:

ballet | slapstick | drag | crossbow | counter espionage | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 January 1968 (Denmark)

Also Known As:

Spylarks

Filming Locations:

Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Rank Organisation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Eric and Ernie perform the famous "Danse des petits cygnes" from "Swan Lake" during the Covent Garden-set opera finale.

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Goofs

During the cinema scene the position of the dead Schlect agent changes between shots.

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Quotes

Eric Morecambe: [on seeing that Phillipe, who is sitting next to him, has just collapsed into his soup after being poisoned] Waiter!
Ernie Sage: Yes?
Eric Morecambe: I have a complaint to make.
Ernie Sage: What?
Eric Morecambe: There's a dead man in this soup.

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Connections

References From Russia with Love (1963)

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Soundtracks

"La Cucuracha"
(uncredited)
Traditional
Arranged by Philip Green

User Reviews

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From the opening introduction of this spy spoof and Bond wannabe to the end credits will have you laughing at the stupidity and silliness of our inept spies...I must have seen this film at least 100 times in my life so far. So much so that I could recite script and dialogue. It's an outright classic of British comedy. Morecambe and Wise have always been a British comedy favorite so their first movie excels. I love the way Eric lusts after the girls with that cheeky schoolboy attitude. If he ever got one of those girls he proberbly wouldn't know what to do with her right away hehe...but it seems he has fun trying! Ernie, on the otherhand, is the best straightman to Erics genius. A perfect match. And Ern does look cute in that blonde wig ;) Good back up comes from various actors but my favorite is Francis Matthews aka Mr. do-do, just watch the judo sketch and the ying-ta-whhoo! Lots of fun for all ages especially if your age is your shoe-size. It never gets tired or old just funnier. Just keep an eye out for Sid and Dick in the cafe and some very silly singing based on 'that song from swan lake'