British Comedy Guide
The Naked Truth. Lord Mayley (Terry-Thomas). Copyright: Rank Organisation
The Naked Truth

The Naked Truth

  • 1957 film

Comedy following a group of people being blackmailed by the editor of a gossip magazine. Stars Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, Peggy Mount, Shirley Eaton, Dennis Price and more.

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The Naked Truth. Lord Mayley (Terry-Thomas). Copyright: Rank Organisation

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1957
Stars
Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, Peggy Mount, Shirley Eaton, Dennis Price, Georgina Cookson, Joan Sims, Miles Malleson and more
Writer
Michael Pertwee
Director
Mario Zampi
Producers
Mario Zampi and Giulio Zampi
Company

Inspired by American gossip-rags, down on his luck journalist Nigel Dennis believes he has concocted the perfect ruse. Collecting up all manner of scandalous stories about businessmen, politicians, celebrities, authors, and ordinary men and women, he intends to publish his own periodical, 'The Naked Truth', using a loophole in the law to tell all of their sordid secrets and make their identities clear, whilst never actually naming them in the respective articles - thus avoiding any possibility of being sued. That is, of course, unless they pay him the sum of £10,000 each for his silence...

Unfortunately for Dennis, his latest targets are not about to play ball. Crime novelist Flora Ransom believes she has plenty of inspiration in her own stories, and that of her heroes and contemporaries, to get rid of the problem - and she's already known for acting out her fiendish plots whilst writing, thus affording the perfect excuse for all many of otherwise shady activity.

Melissa Wright, a young woman engaged to a Texan oil heir, has far more honest intentions, but doesn't feel she can report her blackmailer to the police without backup. Meanwhile, television comedian Sonny MacGregor hides a nasty streak, and believes his own talent for disguise and a variety of character creations to offer a foolproof means of escape after taking Dennis's life himself.

And then there's insurance company chief Lord Mayley, an affable fellow who initially intends to persuade and delay the payment he is being asked to make.

As each party circles around Dennis, and he around them, they increasingly come into contact with one another. However, with a heady mix of mistakes, bad fortune and downright incompetency, they only manage to come off worse themselves. It's time for the group to begin working together if they are to be rid of their common worry, and Mayley may just have the plan.

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Additional details

UK certificate
U
Duration
88 minutes
UK release
Tuesday 3rd December 1957
Distributors

The Rank Organisation

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Black and white

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Tuesday 20th April 2021 at 11:00am on Film4
  • Thursday 21st May 2020 at 11:00am on Film4
  • Wednesday 3rd July 2019 at 11:00am on Film4

Recording details

  • The Walton Studios

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