The Plank (1967)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Eric Sykes

Writer:

Eric Sykes (writer)

Release Date:

13 March 1971 (West Germany)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

You'll splinter your sides laughing at this classic of all comedies

Plot:

Classic short British comedy, full of stars, about two workmen delivering planks to a building site...

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Tommy Cooper	...	Larger Workman
Eric Sykes	...	Smaller Workman
Jimmy Edwards	...	Policeman
Roy Castle	...	Delivery Man with boxes
Graham Stark	...	Amorous Van Driver
Stratford Johns	...	Station Sergeant
Jim Dale	...	House Painter
Jimmy Tarbuck	...	Barman
Hattie Jacques	...	Woman with Rose
Rex Garner	...	Tourist
Libby Morris	...	Tourist
John Junkin	...	One Eyed Truck Driver
Joan Young	...	Woman in Bus Queue with fur wrap
Barney Gilbraith	...	Paint-covered House Owner
Clovissa Newcombe	...	Girl in Van

Runtime:

55 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U

Filming Locations:

Barnes Pond, Barnes, London, England, UK

Company:

Associated London Films

Trivia:

Jimmy Tarbuck's fee was four bottles of whiskey.

Movie Connections:

Remade as The Plank (1979) (TV)

This is a Landmark "Best of British" feel-good mini-film!

I just happened to tape "The Plank" when it was last shown on British terrestrial television (BBC2 5/12/95) and I've held onto this treasure ever since! My family and I love it to bits.We are however die-hard British 50s/60s/and 70/s-silent film fans, e.g. Futtock's End/A Home of Your Own/Rhubarb Rhubarb etc.etc. One of the main appeals of it is that you don't have to listen to it-it's very easy to watch if you've got young kids doing their own thing in the room with you.(they'll look up every now and then and laugh at certain bits). There is now available a DVD of "The Plank" Uncut which comes out at 51 Min's allegedly; this must go some way to outlining it's obvious popularity. I definitely do not prefer the 70's T.V. remake of this as it is so obviously a dumbed down/going through the motions version.The original is the dog's ........! There is however an interesting angle about the re-make and that is several of the original locations have been re-visited so I habitually acknowledge them all each time I view the re-make(Is that sad or good?) Just had to write an uplifting review as the first review doesn't do this justice and is a tad unfair to me.