The Plank (1979)

This is a pantomime about two construction workers, who discover that a plank is missing from the floor they are just building. They discover that two children have taken the plank and use ... See full summary »

Director:

Eric Sykes

Writer:

Eric Sykes

Stars:

Eric Sykes, Arthur Lowe, Lionel Blair

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Sykes	...	Larger Workman
Arthur Lowe	...	Smaller Workman
Lionel Blair	...	Paint-covered House Owner
Henry Cooper	...	Beer drinker
Harry H. Corbett	...	Amorous Van Driver
Bernard Cribbins	...	House painter
Robert Dorning	...	Fork-Lift Truck Driver
Diana Dors	...	Woman with Rose
Charlie Drake	...	Delivery man with cake
Jimmy Edwards	...	Policeman
Liza Goddard	...	Young lady helped across the road
Deryck Guyler	...	Milkman
Charles Hawtrey	...	Co-Driver
Frankie Howerd	...	Photographer
James Hunt	...	One-Eyed Truck Driver

Storyline

This is a pantomime about two construction workers, who discover that a plank is missing from the floor they are just building. They discover that two children have taken the plank and use it for a seesaw. Instead of taking it back, they decide to go and buy a new one. However, this may not have been a very good idea, for all the troubles and problems they encounter, just by buying a plank, are countless.

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Plot Keywords:

remake | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1979 (UK)

Also Known As:

Deska

Filming Locations:

Barnes Pond, Barnes, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Thames Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

28 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is a pantomime, but there is one line in the film. It is uttered by Kate O'Mara who, when discovering that the red spot on Eric Sykes' cheek is not blood, but paint, says, "It's paint."

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Connections

Spoofed in Snowroller - Sällskapsresan II (1985)

User Reviews

A Good Film but not as good as the original

I watched the 1967 version of The Plank and then later on I watched the 1979 version of the Plank. For some reason some of the funny scenes from the 1967 version have been cut out of the 1979 version to make it a half an hour programme instead of the original's 50 minutes. I like the idea of having lots of well known comedy faces in it such as Brian Murphy, Reg Varney, Charles Hawtrey, Harry H Corbett and Joanna Lumley, but the comedic effect is not as good as it was in the original 1967 version. Shame that Eric Sykes replaced Tommy Cooper with Arthur Lowe, but Lowe still does a good job. I also feel that it is a bit strained in a way as there are some silly moments, where for example, the workmen (Eric Sykes and Arthur Lowe) leave their car in the way of the exit, but it is a wide exit with tons of room to get through! Same happens a few minutes later when Brian Murphy's truck won't start. There is plenty of room to pass the truck but the drivers of the cars keep blowing their horns! OVERALL VERDICT: A good, entertaining film, not as good as the original, as some of the best moments (such as the UDC wet cement section, or the police station ending) are not in. Not as good as the original but still worth a watch.