Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1973)

User Rating:

4.2/10   

Director:

Bob Kellett

Writers:

Michael Pertwee (play)
Michael Pertwee (written by)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Drop Everything! It's the Same Game as "Not Now Darling" With Different Players and No Rules!

Plot:

Based on the hit play. A British Government Minister puts forward a bill to battle filth in the UK but...

Plot Keywords:

Orgy | Female Nudity | Hippie | Hypocrisy | Politician

Cast

Brian Rix	...	Barry Ovis
Leslie Phillips	...	Sir William Mainwaring-Brown - Minister
Joan Sims	...	Birdie aka Lady 'Birdie' Mainwaring-Brown
Joanna Lumley	...	Miss Parkyn
Derek Royle	...	Potts
Peter Bland	...	Inspector Ruff
Myra Frances	...	Jean
Katy Manning	...	Damina
Barrie Gosney	...	Police sergeant
Diane Langton	...	Angie
Nicola Rowley	...	Donna
Arnold Diamond	...	Priest
Derek Griffiths	...	Johnny
Peter Greenwell	...	1st Party guest
Corbet Woodall	...	Newsreader

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1987)

Filming Locations:

Cadogan Gardens, Chelsea, London, England, UK

Company:

Comocroft

Trivia:

Joanna Lumley, who also appeared in the stage version, describes the filming as having to be done in 'a basement off Fleet Street, more horrific than The Exorcist (1973) it was!'

Quotes:

Sir William Mannering-Brown: [on a public phone] Ah, hello, Birdie, this is your Cockie here, safely back in who's little nest?
Lady 'Birdie' Mannering-Brown: If you mean: did I get home safely, the answer is yes.

Movie Connections:

References "Come Dancing" (1949)

Classic Farce

Nobody really makes this type of film anymore, and the film world is a lot poorer for it in my opinion. Certainly we could do worse as a nation to make more comedy like this than to made endless "Lock, Stock..." gangster clones. Basically, it's a film version of a typical stage farce, with everything you'd expect bar the local vicar. I'll admit it's not everyone's cup of tea but suspend your disbelief.

It does sag in places (!) as the lie-upon-lie builds up, but what many people don't seem to notice is the slick interplay between the leads, the funny dialogue, and Leslie Phillips in full "well he-llo" mode. There is also the advantage of a great supporting cast, of whom Joan Sims typically shines in a thankless "nagging wife" role. Her advice to someone getting married "pray... watch..." is delivered superbly.

It's the type of thing that would never trouble an Oscar jury, but if some of the recent winners are anything to go by (hello Monsters Ball, Cold Mountain....), this can only be in its favour.

Basically, this is a fun film that you can see time and time again. You can't say that for a lot of films. Thrillers get less thrilling when you know whodunnit, for example.