Not Now, Comrade (1976) User Reviews

A rarity - a successful screen farce

[Leofwine_draca · 6/10 · 14 September 2016]

NOT NOW, COMRADE is a Cold War-themed British farce adapted from his own play by Ray Cooney, who also co-directs alongside TV veteran Harold Snoad (the guy later behind KEEPING UP APPEARANCES). Most of it is set inside a household where various characters are trying to evade the authorities and some are planning to defect to Britain and back to Russia again. It all gets rather complicated, as you'd expect, so it's best to think of this as a film about a bunch of oddballs and their high-energy interactions.

I think the film works well because it has a clear CARRY ON influence in its lightness of touch and slapstick jokes. I particularly enjoyed the endless innuendos which are mild enough to remain clean and yet humorous at the same time. Plus, there's a who's who British cast to enjoy. Leslie Phillips plays an older variation of his usual characters while Ian Lavender is a toffish buffoon. Roy Kinnear has some of the funniest moments as the exasperated gardener. Windsor Davies and Don Estelle have good cameos and the latter sings the title song. Carol Hawkins has little to do other than show her charms but she does that well enough and Michele Dotrice has some of Betty's exasperation about her. Lewis Fiander (DR JEKYLL AND SISTER HYDE) is all camp as the ballet dancer and June Whitfield has a bit part. Richard Marner's goofy Russian seems to be a dry run for Colonel Von Strohm. It's good clean fun, and sorely underrated.

A funny movie

[jps270770 · 22 October 2005]

Critics may lambaste this low budget flick - but i love it! - and this film still remains one of my all time favourite classic comedies (alongside 'Planes, Trains & Automobiles'.)Aimed primarily at a British audience - it may err on the side of British humour which other nationalities may find hard to understand the humour. I have to say that i laughed from start to finish with the script! What more can i say?..... Give it a watch - you will either love it or hate it! - but you certainly can't forget it! Lesley Phillips certainly fulfils his role as the Eccentric British funny-man. The film is not made out to be a classic but i feel that if you are after the humour and not flashy sets and Hollywood A-list actors, then its worth a watch! The film is certainly for an era gone by, but writing on behalf of the Eighties something generation - it is surprisingly hilarious!

The British film industry, 1976...

[g-hbe · 3/10 · 1 May 2017]

Not now, Comrade (1976, Leslie Philips, Ian Lavender etc) We've just attempted to enjoy this on Talking Pictures TV, but it was an impossible task. Sadly, this is what the British film industry was reduced to in the mid-70's, although it gave a good number of fading stars and soap personalities something to do. We enjoy a good Ray Cooney farce, but this isn't one of them. It's one of those 'sex comedies' that became popular at the time and no-one comes out of this one well, although Carol Hawkins does have some fine attributes and was good to look at. It's stage roots are very obvious, with people who must not meet coming and going from various doors and asking awkward questions. The scene following the Russian ballet dancer's release from the car boot is excruciating, you just want it to be over as soon as possible. The Triumph Stag was probably the best thing in the entire film and accounts for one of my 3 points. Carol Hawkins gets the other two. Ahem.

Budget ? What Budget ?

[Theo Robertson · 3/10 · 2 April 2003]

This has got to be one of the lowest budget films ever produced in Britain , and considering it`s a British film that is indeed saying a lot . In fact it`s somewhat insulting to consider NOT NOW COMRADE a " film " since as one contributer mentioned it`s a stage play . It`s like someone has gone into the local theartre with a film camera and started filming . The interiors resemble those you`d see in a theartre and you can clearly hear the CLUMP CLUMP CLUMP as the actors run around the wooden floors like you would in an auditorium . I guess some people might be pretentious pseudo-intellectuals and say the film has a self referential marxist theme because of the title and therefore that`s why there`s been no money spent but I`d say correctly that even in 1976 it would have been an outdated British B movie with limited appeal hence no one would want to invest money into it

Reply to: budget? what budget?

[birdparker · 7/10 · 6 August 2007]

Its a shame that the previous comments seem to have focused on so much negative and missed the positive of what was always intended to be a very lighthearted comedy in the style of the Carry On films.

Sets, budget and production are certainly low priority but the script is classic British humour from the 70's and to me is easily as funny as the best Carry On's .. and some parts still make me laugh out loud despite having viewed the film many times to cheer myself up on a rainy day. The best of which has to be the wonderful Ray Kinnear's encounter with the stripper/love interest in the bushes outside the house.

As for the 'self referential marxist theme'comment (??!) I can only say lighten up! This is a silly piece of comedy, not a Chekov play. In a world where CGI is beginning to replace any semblance of a script, its refreshing to see something so simple and intended purely for entertainment.

Cheeky, bawdy fun!

[rocknrelics · 7/10 · 4 May 2020]

How can you not like a film that has Carol Hawkins getting her kit off in the first 5 minutes?! A great little snapshot of an England that no longer exists more's the pity. Lots of cheeky British 70's humour which you'll either love or will be appalled by. A good cast too who give it their all. So often these saucy films fell flat, but this one doesn't, it's actually funny.

A Tale of Two Tassels..!

[chrisludlam · 8/10 · 19 January 2021]

Or at least to begin with,as Striptease Artiste Barbara(Delectable Carol Hawkins)wearing the aforementioned strategically placed tassels and little else,successfully disrupts a photo-shoot of a Moscow Ballet Company,in order to facilitate the escape of her defecting Ballet star boyfriend Rudi(Amusing Lewis Fiander) to her waiting car.Unfortunately,he climbs into the boot of the wrong vehicle! This belongs to Naval Commander Rimmington(Leslie Phillips),who drives off home,and the frantic "Adventure" begins! The Film is full of Broad British humour,typical of the Seventies:Farce,Innuendo and even Slapstick:Politically Incorrect and Funny for sure. Much of the Innuendo is centred on Barbara and her obvious charms! All of the cast of British Comedy Stalwarts,several appearing in very popular t.v.Sitcoms of the time,rise appropriately to the occasion. Ian Lavender,as Civil Servant Gerry Buss(Also Boyfriend of the Commander's Daughter Nancy),has as much screen time as anyone,including pretending to be both the Commander and Rudi when called upon! Michele Dotrice(Nancy) and Carol Hawkins are fun in their respective roles,as is Roy Kinnear as the increasingly paranoic Gardener,Hoskins. Co-Director Ray Cooney is also amusing as the initially staid Mr. Laver,the MI 6 man,who' loosens up' as his drink ratio increases. Windsor Davies is the local Constable doing his best to sort out the escalating confusion,determined to get his man,even if it's the wrong one!June Whitfield and Don Estelle(Who also sings the Title song) appear later in the proceedings to add to the hilarity in important,if limiting roles. Add the two pursuing Russian KGB men into the mix also! If you enjoy this very British Entertainment of the period then this movie is for you!

A very funny film

[Kistal3 · 10/10 · 3 April 2007]

I think its one of the most funniest films I've ever seen, makes a pleasant change to have a film with NO BAD LANGUAGE in it. Makes me laugh from start to finish,and sadly not many films do that for me these days. I would love to get a copy of it on any format I can get, preferably DVD though, but video would do. There are a lot of famous people in it which play their part perfectly, and the music is enjoyable too. I don't know why every one gives it such a bad write-up, I would sure like to see it over and over again, hence why I want a copy from somewhere. The TV stations don't even seen to want to show it, its most frustrating. Can any one help me find a copy?