The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971)

This early Seventies British comedy takes us through seven short stories based on the Seven Deadly Sins. This film is a montage of different styles, from Spike Milligan's mainly silent "... See full summary »

Director:

Graham Stark

Writers:

Bob Larbey, John Esmonde

Stars:

Felicity Devonshire, Bruce Forsyth, Paul Whitsun-Jones

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Felicity Devonshire	...	Nude Girl
Bruce Forsyth	...	Clayton (segment "Avarice")
Paul Whitsun-Jones	...	Elsinore (segment "Avarice")
Bernard Bresslaw	...	Mr. Violet (segment "Avarice")
Joan Sims	...	Policewoman (segment "Avarice")
Roy Hudd	...	Fisherman (segment "Avarice")
Julie Samuel	...	Petrol Attendant (segment "Avarice")
Cheryl Hall	...	Vanessa (segment "Avarice")
Suzanne Heath	...	Chloe (segment "Avarice") (as Susanne Heath)
Harry Secombe	...	Stanley (segment "Envy")
Geoffrey Bayldon	...	Vernon (segment "Envy")
June Whitfield	...	Mildred (segment "Envy")
Carmel Cryan	...	Vera (segment "Envy")
Leslie Phillips	...	Dickie (segment "Gluttony")
Julie Ege	...	Ingrid (segment "Gluttony")

Storyline

This early Seventies British comedy takes us through seven short stories based on the Seven Deadly Sins. This film is a montage of different styles, from Spike Milligan's mainly silent "Sloth", to the leering Harry H Corbett in "Lust".

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Plot Keywords:

lust | sloth | seven deadly sins | greed | policewoman | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

November 1971 (UK)

Also Known As:

De 7 hoofdzonden

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tigon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White (segment "Sloth") Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

The segments "Pride" and "Lust" had originally been television plays in the series Comedy Playhouse (1961)

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Goofs

In the Pride section, the Rolls Royce has, at first, both the RAC and AA badges as it travels down the lane, then only one, the RAC badge, for the rest of the piece.

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Quotes

Doctor: I take it he didn't get to the pudding?
Ingrid: No, he didn't get that far.
Doctor: Pitty. I like something that's rather sweet.
Ingrid: I'm sure you do.
Doctor: Perhaps I'd better take a look at it?

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Crazy Credits

Felicity Devonshire tops the cast list during the end credits, but instead of receiving a written character description, she is represented by a drawing of how she appears in the film.

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Connections

Remade as Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's...: Impasse (1996)

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Soundtracks

Envy, Greed An' Gluttony
(the Seven Deadly Sins theme)
Sung by Middle of the Road (as The Middle Of The Road)
Written by Roy Budd and Jack Fishman

User Reviews

One of the most tragic missed opportunities of all time...

Look at the cast list of this film; try and name someone famous in late 1960s British comedy who is not there. It is not easy. This film had a huge comic talent to call on, a promising premiss, writers-a-go-go and the head-start of a fairly funny punning title. Where did they go wrong? Where did they go right?! Here is a question: into which of the 7 deadly sins would one normally put the notoriously leering Casanova Leslie Phillips? If you answered 'Gluttony' you are absolutely correct! He eats his way through a load of éclairs and has a heart attack. Spike Milligan's segment--Sloth--is probably the best overall, mainly because it is silent. However, director Graeme Stark has written quite a small masterpiece in 'Lust'--a more or less one man play with the sadly-missed Harry H Corbett. He plays the rather sad Ambrose Twombly (the fastest lighter on the Bakerloo). This is my favourite segment although it is clouded by a pathetic ending. It is worth watching this film; I think anyone would definitely enjoy it. But when it is over you will probably think, as I did, 'Why wasn't that funnier?'