The Sandwich Man (1966)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Robert Hartford-Davis

Writers:

Michael Bentine (writer)
Robert Hartford-Davis (writer)

Release Date:

14 January 1966 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A man with a sandwich-board (advert) wanders around London meeting many strange characters. |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Michael Bentine	...	Horace Quilby, The Sandwich Man
Dora Bryan	...	Mrs. DeVere
Harry H. Corbett	...	Mack - Stage-Door Keeper
Bernard Cribbins	...	Harold - the Photographer
Diana Dors	...	First Billingsgate Lady
Ian Hendry	...	Policeman On Motorcycle
Stanley Holloway	...	Park Gardener
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Lord Uffingham
Michael Medwin	...	Sewer Man
Ron Moody	...	Rowing Coach
Anna Quayle	...	Second Billingsgate Lady
Terry-Thomas	...	Scoutmaster
Norman Wisdom	...	Boxing Vicar
Donald Wolfit	...	Car Salesman
David Buck	...	Steven Mansfield

Also Known As:

That Swinging City

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U

Filming Locations:

Billingsgate, Trafalgar Way, Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK

Company:

Titan International

as a picture of how London was 40 odd years ago, absolutely indispensable

My score is generous, don't get to imagining that this is anything like as funny as the makers intended or the cast suggests. It's just that it all has such a good feel to it and as a picture of how London was 40 odd years ago, absolutely indispensable. The release date of 1966 and references in the trailer, imply that this movie embodies the nebulous concept of, 'Swinging London'. The truth is, however, that this movie is just on the cusp. It may be that it took a couple of years to put together and almost completely misses out except for a couple of little touches including a mostly hidden very short dress glimpsed in the last of Bernard Cribbins' photo sessions. Significant also in that the lovely girl being photographed is Suzy Kendall, more or less at the start of her career and set to make many classic, cult and giallo films. Everybody else with the possible exception of Ian Hendry is on the wane. As the 'swinging sixties' take a hold, all of these lovable old characters will disappear, being far too representative of the 50s for the groovy boys and birds. Michelangelo Antonioni seemed to capture the coming wave in the same year's, 'Blow Up' and that is either because he was particularly perceptive or that being an outsider, gave him greater perspective to spot the changes. in any event a must see film for anyone interested in the stars or the city.