Work Is a 4-Letter Word (1968)

Everyone is employed by the ultra-modern DICE Corporation but Valentine Brose would rather stay at home to tend his psychedelic mushrooms.

Director:

Peter Hall

Writers:

Jeremy Brooks, Henry Livings (play)

Stars:

David Warner, Cilla Black, Zia Mohyeddin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Warner	...	Valentine Brose
Cilla Black	...	Betty Dorrick
Zia Mohyeddin	...	Dr. Aly Narayana
David Waller	...	Mr. Price
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Mrs. Murray
Alan Howard	...	Reverend Mort
Jan Holden	...	Mrs. Price
Tony Church	...	Mr. Arkwright
Joe Gladwin	...	Pa Brose
Julie May	...	Mrs. Dorrick
Derek Royle	...	Briggs
John Steiner	...	Anthony
Cyril Cross	...	Commissionaire
Clifford Rose	...	Registry Office Clerk
Paul Dawkins	...	Powerplant Guard

Storyline

Everyone is employed by the ultra-modern DICE Corporation but Valentine Brose would rather stay at home to tend his psychedelic mushrooms.

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Plot Keywords:

surrealism | work | underground | technology | machine | 

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Taglines:

This Film Is Perfectly Normal ... Only The Characters In It Are A Bit Odd.

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Genres:

Comedy | Fantasy

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Certificate:

M/PG

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 1968 (USA)

Also Known As:

Work Is a Four Letter Word

Filming Locations:

Five Ways, Birmingham, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cavalcade Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

First film of Elizabeth Spriggs.

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Quotes

Mr. Price: This is a fully automated power station, Brose. It doesn't need human beings. It doesn't want them. It only tolerates them so long as they confine themselves to harmless and unnecessary functions such as sweeping out restrooms that do not require sweeping out. Any other sort of activity and you know what will happen to you, Brose?
Valentine Brose: I do not know what will happen to me, Brose.
Mr. Price: It will chew you up and spit you out like a used plastic bag.

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Soundtracks

Work Is a Four-Letter Word
Written by Don Black & Guy Woolfenden
Sung by Cilla Black

User Reviews

Father than far out

One of the furthest out there of the late 60s counter culture movies, even though this 90 minute cinematic oddity was done by a Shakespeare troupe. We've got many of the classic themes here including work is oppressing and drugs can set you free! Right on.

Valentine Brose doesn't want to work but pressure from his girlfriend (Cilla Black!) and the chance to grow his magic mushrooms in a dark, damp factory environment persuade him to take the job. Many whimsical, surreal adventures follow, usually at the expense of the businessmen and the squares in general. At the end all the squares dose on Valentine's magic mushrooms, sit down for a nice chat and romp around all silly and laughy and childlike. Don't expect a straight narrative, it's as weird as all get out. Yay.