Undercovers Hero (1974)

In this comedy, set during the Nazi occupation of France, Peter Sellers plays most major male parts, so he stars in nearly every scene, always bumbling in inspector Clouseau-style. As ... See full summary »

Director:

Roy Boulting

Writers:

Leo Marks (story and screenplay), Roy Boulting (story and screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Sellers, Lila Kedrova, Curd Jürgens

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Sellers	...	Général Latour & General Latour / Major Robinson / Herr Schroeder / Adolf Hitler / M. Le Président des Forces Spéciales & The President / H.R.H. General The Prince Kyoto & Prince Kyoto
Lila Kedrova	...	Madame Grenier
Curd Jürgens	...	General von Grotjahn (as Curt Jurgens)
Béatrice Romand	...	Marie-Claude (as Beatrice Romand)
Jenny Hanley	...	Michèlle
Gabriella Licudi	...	Simone
Françoise Pascal	...	Madeleine
Rex Stallings	...	Alan Cassidy
Rula Lenska	...	Louise
Daphne Lawson	...	Claudine
Hylette Adolphe	...	Mlle. Tom-Tom
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Padre
Douglas Sheldon	...	Kapitan Kneff
Thorley Walters	...	General Erhardt
Timothy West	...	Convent Chaplain

Storyline

In this comedy, set during the Nazi occupation of France, Peter Sellers plays most major male parts, so he stars in nearly every scene, always bumbling in inspector Clouseau-style. As British Major Robinson he is hidden in Madame Grenier's Parisian brothel, right under the nose of the Nazi clients, such as Gestapo agent Herr Schroeder (again him). As Général Latour he leads the French resistance, which includes the brothel madam -made a colonel in charge of her sexy 'troops'- and a priest, and is joined by young US diplomat Alan Cassidy. As Japanese imperial Prince Kyoto he becomes a target for the resistance in a monastery on his way to Hitler (again him). At the end he decorates the heroes as French president.

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Plot Keywords:

adolf hitler character | pantyhose | nude pantyhose | female stockinged legs | female stockinged feet | 

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Taglines:

The movie with the 6 best Sellers in one!

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roy Boulting has said that this film was the "unhappiest experience in my whole career". This was due to the temperamental behaviour of Peter Sellers. The costs spiralled out of control, nearly bankrupting Boulting.

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Goofs

A character is shot by firing-squad. The shadow of his body does not match the position in which he was last seen.

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Quotes

Schultz: What do you look forward to?
Herr Schroeder: After the war? I look forward to going back to my old job in civilian street.
Schultz: What did you do?
Herr Schroeder: I was an income tax inspector.
Schultz: Very different from the Gestapo.
Herr Schroeder: Not the way I do it!

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Crazy Credits

Opening credits: "History is but a fable that has been agreed upon" Voltaire

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Connections

Featured in 42nd Street Forever, Volume 4: Cooled by Refrigeration (2009)

User Reviews

If I'm being honest (and I am), this film is a tragedy.

The tag line: "The film with Six Best Sellers in one!"

a) The word Best in that sentence is misleading; b) That sentence is funnier than the film itself.

"Soft Beds" is a very disjointed, rambling film set in World War 2. France is being invaded, and a local brothel seems to be getting mixed up in the conflict. A group of prostitutes, with help from a British and an American soldier, save Paris from being blown up by the Gestapo.

Well, there you have it. I don't think I'd need go on, as that sums up the whole rubbishness of the film adequately, but I think I might as well press on.

The only reason anyone may remember this film is because Peter Sellers plays six roles. However, none of them are impressive, and several are characterisations played with far better flair in his other films; the old man who is married but prefers to spend time with the young ladies was played a lot better in "Waltz of the Toreadors", whilst the Japanese man, with pidgin English, was funnier in "Murder by Death". Sellers also plays another French character who has about 3 minutes screentime and isn't worth remembering, a Gestapo leader who is neither funny nor menacing, and Adolf Hitler, there so that we can make a joke about the fact that the Fuhrer was racist. It sums up the tone of the film quite nicely. The only character played by Sellers who gets any laughs is a British officer, who has the same voice inflections as Captain Mandrake from "Strangelove", and is funny only because Sellers can say "Sod it!" in a funny way.

The film is just a long line of sketches involving prostitutes getting one over on the Nazis, with the British Sellers wandering in and out of the narrative to shoot someone. The rambling, unfunny plot, coupled with several scenes in which people die of flatulence, are the final nails in the coffin for this sorry film. In fact, the only fun one could get from this film is the fact that the cast list is chocker with actors and actresses you'll recognise from other shows (including Phillip Madoc, and good old Nick "the Brigadier in Doctor Who" Courtney, uncredited, and managing even to out-act Sellers with 3 lines). And Rula Lenska is topless in her first scene, which probably counts for something.

It's rubbish. Stay away. 3/10

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1974 (Ireland)

Also Known As:

Undercovers Hero

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Rank Organisation, Charter Film Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

107 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1