The Wrong Box (1966)

In Victorian England, a fortune now depends on which of two brothers outlives the other, or can be made to have seemed to do so.

Director:

Bryan Forbes

Writers:

Robert Louis Stevenson (suggested by a novel by), Lloyd Osbourne (suggested by a novel by)

Stars:

John Mills, Michael Caine, Ralph Richardson

Won 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Masterman Finsbury
Ralph Richardson	...	Joseph Finsbury
Michael Caine	...	Michael Finsbury
Peter Cook	...	Morris Finsbury
Dudley Moore	...	John Finsbury
Nanette Newman	...	Julia Finsbury
Tony Hancock	...	Detective
Peter Sellers	...	Doctor Pratt
Cicely Courtneidge	...	Major Martha
Wilfrid Lawson	...	Peacock - the Butler
Thorley Walters	...	Lawyer Patience
Gerald Sim	...	1st Undertaker
Peter Graves	...	Military Officer
Irene Handl	...	Mrs. Hackett
Norman Bird	...	Clergyman

Storyline

In 1818, England, a tontine i(lottery) is established for 20 boys by their parents. Each parent put £1000 into the pot, the winner being the last surviving boy, will recieve all the money (the total, £100,000.00 - (equal to over £12m today). The group dwindles until only 2 elderly brothers are left by1882. One brother's watched by his nephews who'll keep him alive at all costs. The other lives in ill health and poverty - the only support is his perpetually confused grandson. A deliciously hysterical black comedy

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Plot Keywords:

tontine | falling into an open grave | wooden crate | wooden barrel | steam locomotive | 

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Taglines:

Virtuous maidens...cunning cousins...dastardly deeds...bodies in barrels...and boxes and boxes of boxes!

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tony Hancock: As a detective.

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Goofs

Just before the train crash you can see the smoke and steam going back into the engines, signifying the trains were in reverse and the film played backwards.

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Quotes

Peacock: How's your grandfather this morning?
Michael Finsbury: He says he's dying, Peacock.
Peacock: Oh, he always says that.
Michael Finsbury: But Peacock, he wants to see his brother Joseph...
Peacock: He must be dying.

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Crazy Credits

The various key moments in the story were introduced by caption cards, in the style of a silent film, such as "Alone with her at last - in a room full of eggs" and "The wrong box is delivered".

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter (1982)

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Soundtracks

Light of Head
Written by Clifford Bevan

User Reviews

Sixties Victoriana

Sixties take offs of the Victorian era are usually very entertaining. All of the clichés of repression and morbidity are always very over the top and they are here. A woman falls madly in love with a man when she sees his arms, the salvation army stick their nose into everything. It is perhaps more insightful into the sixties than anything! This is by no means a master piece, frankly with such a stellar cast it is rather disappointing. The script tries too hard to be funny and the gags come too thick and fast , especially at the end, for the viewer to be able to follow, certainly it is very unlike the slower, more leisurely pace of Stevenson's book.

However it is certainly worth watching. If nothing else it contains one of my favourite lines ever 'Listen to me all you eggs'!

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Swahili

Release Date:

1 July 1966 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Wrong Box

Filming Locations:

Green Park Station, Bath, Somerset, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Salamander Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1