4.6/10
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9 user 3 critic

Up the Front (1972)

Unrated | | Comedy | 14 July 1972 (UK)
Up the Front Poster
Frankie Howerd stars in this comedy as a lowly boot-boy who is a terrible coward. He only goes to war in 1914 after he has been hypnotised to 'save England'. With the German master plan ... See full summary »

Director:

Bob Kellett

Writers:

Sid Colin (screenplay), Eddie Braben (screenplay) | 4 more credits »

Stars:

Frankie Howerd, Bill Fraser, William Mervyn | See full cast & crew »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Frankie Howerd ... Lurk
Bill Fraser Bill Fraser ... Groping
William Mervyn William Mervyn ... Lord Twithampton
Linda Gray Linda Gray ... Lady Twithampton
Jonathan Cecil ... Nigel / Nigel Phipps Fortescue
Madeline Smith ... Fanny
Nicholas Bennett Nicholas Bennett ... Mallett
Mike Grady ... Newsboy
Dora Bryan ... Cora Crumpington
Stanley Holloway ... The Great Vincento / Vincento
Veronica Clifford Veronica Clifford ... Velma
Peter Greenwell Peter Greenwell ... Pianist / Accordianiste / Leader Of The Orchestra
Barrie Gosney ... Stage Manager
Bob Hoskins ... Recruiting Sgt.
Lance Percival Lance Percival ... Von Gutz
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

Frankie Howerd stars in this comedy as a lowly boot-boy who is a terrible coward. He only goes to war in 1914 after he has been hypnotised to 'save England'. With the German master plan tattooed on his backside (this is the only way he could get the plan back to the British), he goes to the British headquarters, with the Germans in hot pursuit, to try and 'hand over the plans'!!! Written by Graeme Huggan <hia95gh@sheffield.ac.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

based on tv series | sequel | independent film | See All (3) »

Taglines:

When only Frankie's cheek could save Britain from the Hun See more »

Genres:

Comedy

Certificate:

Unrated | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
Edit

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 1972 (UK) See more »

Also Known As:

Kommandosache 'Nackter Po' See more »

Filming Locations:

EMI-MGM Elstree Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anglo-EMI See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)| Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

Frankie Howerd's characters in the three "Up..." movies all have similar names. Howerd is Lurcio in Up Pompeii (1971), Lurkalot in The Chastity Belt (1972) and Lurk in Up the Front (1972). See more »

Goofs

When the sign at Monique's is splattered by mud the N is only partially covered, but in the next shot the N is completely covered. See more »

Quotes

Vincento: [drunkenly] I will take your breath away.
Lurk: [recoiling] I wish you'd take yours away!
See more »

Crazy Credits

At the end of the film the cast credits are listed as 'cast in order of cowardice'. See more »

Connections

Follows Up Pompeii (1971) See more »

Soundtracks

Orpheus in the Underworld
(uncredited)
Music by Jacques Offenbach
Arranged by Peter Greenwell
See more »

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User Reviews

Very Disapointing
16 November 2002 | by BritishFilms1 – See all my reviews

I read in the "Radio Times" magazine that this film was a WW1 comedy starring comedian Frankie Howerd, I thought it would be very funny, so I decided to sit up and watch it.

Frankie Howerd had just finished playing the slave Lurcio in the comedy series "Up Pompeii", which I thought was very successful. I thought this film would have his usual humor and some good jokes.

Unfortunatly, when it came to watching it, I was very disapointed. It totally wastes Frankie Howerd's comedy talent and even the performance by Zsa Zsa Gabor as Mata Hari couldn't save this.

0 out of 10.
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