The Knack... and How to Get It (1965)
"The Knack ...and How to Get It" (original title)

In England, the times are a changing: it's mods and rockers. On the day Nancy gets off the London train, cases in hand, looking for the YWCA, Colin has had enough of missing out on the ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

Charles Wood (screenplay), Ann Jellicoe (play)

Stars:

Rita Tushingham, Ray Brooks, Michael Crawford

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rita Tushingham	...	Nancy Jones
Ray Brooks	...	Tolen
Michael Crawford	...	Colin
Donal Donnelly	...	Tom
William Dexter	...	Dress Shop Owner
Charles Dyer	...	Man in Photo Booth
Margot Thomas	...	Female Teacher
John Bluthal	...	Angry Father
Helen Lennox	...	Girl in Photo Booth
Wensley Pithey	...	Teacher
Edgar Wreford	...	Man in Phone Booth
Frank Sieman	...	Surveyor
Bruce Lacey	...	Surveyor's Asst.
George Chisholm	...	Left Luggage Porter
Peter Copley	...	Picture Owner

Storyline

In England, the times are a changing: it's mods and rockers. On the day Nancy gets off the London train, cases in hand, looking for the YWCA, Colin has had enough of missing out on the sexual revolution. He begs his smooth (and misogynistic) pal Tolen to teach him 'the knack' - how to score with women. Serendipitously, Colin and his new lodger Tom meet up with Nancy while Colin's buying a bed larger than Tolen's. The three hit it off, but their simple fun ends when Tolen meets Nancy. Colin is jealous but impotent, and Tolen both attracts and repels her. She swoons, wonders what happened, and cries 'rape.' Impish serendipity rubs against unsettling ambiguity; Tolen bolts.

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Plot Keywords:

mod | bed | ywca | london england | punctuation in title | 

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Taglines:

There's a niche for 'The Knack.'

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 June 1965 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Knack... and How to Get It

Filming Locations:

1 Melrose Terrace, Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$364,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Woodfall Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Richard Lester:  one of the reaction shots when Nancy, Colin and Tom roll the bed through the streets. He's the balding guy standing next to a lady with big hair.

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Quotes

Boy In Classroom: Sir, That hurt, sir. You steaming nit, sir!

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Connections

Featured in The Many Faces of...: Michael Crawford (2013)

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Soundtracks

"The Knack (vocal)"
Written by John Barry
Sung by Johnny De Little

User Reviews

marvelous persiflage of the 19-Sixties

'The knack (or how to get it)' makes a marvelous persiflage of the 19-Sixties and everything the era stands for.

It's all there: the generation gap with the people over forty, the urge to live your life differently than your parents do, the idealization of sex, and the then revolutionary new forms of art.

An extra dimension is added by the magnificent acting of Rita Tushingham, representing a sober & realistic look on life from the countryside.

However, I estimate that knowledge about the 19-Sixties is necessary to enjoy 'the knack' to the full. For those who haven't, this film must be meaningless and even boring -- having faded away by the passing of time already a long time ago.