Futtocks End
- 1969 film
Dialogue-free comedy in which an ageing General welcomes a group of relatives to his country estate for the weekend. Stars Michael Hordern, Ronnie Barker, Roger Livesey, Julian Orchard, Kika Markham and more.
Futtocks End trivia
American censors believed the work 'futtock' to be rude and suggested the film's title be changed to A Gentleman's Home Is His Castle. A futtock is in fact part of a boat.
Another director was originally attached to the project but was offered a large American production days before filming commenced, so producer Bob Kellett took on the role.
The house used in the film, Grim's Dyke in Harrow, north-west London, was previously owned by W. S. Gilbert.
Owned by the local council and up for sale at the time, the house was hired for £1,000. It had not been inhabited for many years, was bare of any and all furniture, and featured "huge mushrooms growing in clumps" throughout the kitchen and lower floors of the property.
Source: Bob Kellett commentary
David Paradine Films' original budget for the film was £140,000, but producer Bob Kellett explained they couldn't hope to make back much more than £20,000 even with a full cinema release, so - cutting an extended village fete sequence in which a storm hit - he cut the project back to £20,000. Production was eventually completed with £5 spare.
Source: Bob Kellett commentary