Up the Front (1972)

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)

Stars:

Frankie Howerd, Bill Fraser, William Mervyn

Cast

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

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'!!!

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Plot Keywords:

based on tv series | sequel | independent film | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Unrated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actors Stanley Holloway and Zsa Zsa Gabor received 'guest' star credits.

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Goofs

Near the beginning Groping states that the Hun are at the gates AGAIN, the film is set in the First World War so it is the first time Britain was at war with Germany.

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Quotes

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

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits prologue: LONDON 1914

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Connections

Follows The Chastity Belt (1972)

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Soundtracks

Alouette
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the French officer in the toilet

User Reviews

Forgettable conclusion to the Frankie Howerd trilogy

Well, we had UP POMPEII - a Roman comedy based on his popular television series, and its sequel UP THE CHASTITY BELT (which updated the format to the Middle Ages), so now comes UP THE FRONT, featuring the same kind of shenanigans except this time taking place during WW1.

I was in two minds about this film before watching it, purely because I wasn't sure how a comedy set during one of the most tragic wars in history would play out. I needn't have worried; UP THE FRONT is as trivial and frivolous as ever, a series of lame gags just about held together by Howerd's front man.

I like Howerd, but this material is definitely beneath him. When a running gang about a goat is the highlight of your movie, you know you're in trouble. He blusters and shams his way through a series of painful, originality-free gags while a series of supporting actors (Bill Fraser, Dora Bryan, Lance Percival and Stanley Holloway) mug shamelessly. Even Zsa Zsa Gabor shows up (playing Mata Hari!) along with a youthful Bob Hoskins in his first film outing.

The paucity of both budget and imagination is evident in the uselessness of the script, which involves a secret map tattooed on Howerd's behind (interestingly, the idea was later borrowed for the spaghetti western, THE STRANGER AND THE GUNFIGHTER). At the end of the day, this is a comedy with unfunny jokes, so it's not really worth sitting through.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 July 1972 (UK)

Also Known As:

Kommandosache 'Nackter Po'

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Anglo-EMI

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor) Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1