Two-Way Stretch (1960)

On TPTV and I'd seen it a couple of times before, but it is such a classic and had so many great stars in it, I just had to watch it again.

Dodger Lane (Peter Sellers) and his two cell mates (Bernard Cribbins and David Lodge) plan to break out of prison to steal a load of diamonds (worth £2,000,000 THEN), then break back into prison after the job giving them the perfect alibi, which is all arranged by one of their old gang on the outside Soapy Stevens, played superbly by Wilfrid Hyde-White.

Lionel Jeffries as Chief P.O. Crout (as only he can play a vicious screw), Liz Frazer as Dodger's moll and Irene Handl as Bernard's mum, all make for an absolutely brilliant British comedy. Must mention Beryl Reid too, as a prison visitor - so funny.

Indeed a classic, takes me back to Sunday afternoons in the front room. On the now sadly rare occasions W H-W appears in any re-runs these days I can't help shouting 'Soapy Stevens'

Clement & La Frenais were fans of this film...

Also inspired one of the industry's funniest injokes if you were going to be in a film with one of the actors here. Not Peter Sellers, he created the saying.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 6th October 2023, 7:12 AM

Clement & La Frenais were fans of this film...

Also inspired one of the industry's funniest injokes if you were going to be in a film with one of the actors here. Not Peter Sellers, he created the saying.

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Which is? Go on then, I'm all in suspenders..................

Must also give mention to one of my favourite scenes, with the broken-nosed Ted Carroll, posing in his baggy leopard skin posing pants in the art class, when the three ladies were being given a tour of the "wonderful" work the governor implemented for the men, and as they are standing next to Carroll, Sellers gives the back of his thigh a little stroke, which Carroll thinks is the strait-laced woman, and whispers out of the corner of his mouth "'Ello darlin'" - a few seconds, and so funny.

Quote: Hercules Grytpype Thynne @ 6th October 2023, 9:22 AM

Which is? Go on then, I'm all in suspenders..................

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Does it involve John Le Mesurier, Graham Stark & Peter Sellers?

I don't think Alf is going to tell us

Lionel Jeffries stole/chewed the scenes he was in so much and continued to make a habit of it that if you were a bigger name who's starred in a film with him you were said to have been 'Lioneled'.

Quote: Billy Bunter @ 6th October 2023, 5:00 PM

Does it involve John Le Mesurier, Graham Stark & Peter Sellers?

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Not this one but please tell us... There are quite a few industry 'injokes' and reputational slights and such from that period as it was a boom time in the British film and comedy industry. There must be a book or two on them all somewhere. Probably written by (our) Graham McCann.

Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 7th October 2023, 9:47 AM

Not this one but please tell us...

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I'm sure you're aware of John Le Mesurier being quoted as saying, in respect of Stark's supposed sycophancy, "Graham Stark is the only man in London with a flat up Peter Sellers' arse." or words to that effect.

No that's the first I've heard that one but not surprised by it (although I'm a big fan of Stark's). I'm thinking this would make a good thread now. 😁 Look out Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd et al.

Quote: Billy Bunter @ 7th October 2023, 10:04 AM

I'm sure you're aware of John Le Mesurier being quoted as saying, in respect of Stark's supposed sycophancy, "Graham Stark is the only man in London with a flat up Peter Sellers' arse." or words to that effect.

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Like it 😆

When I was in the photographic trade in the 1970s, and we joined the Photomarket franchise, they introduced their "own label" equipment (which we wished they hadn't!) and the advertising heavily featured Stark telling you how wonderful this new SLR was (can't remember its name now), which he was obviously paid a lot to spout, as Graham was very much into photography at the time, as was Sellers, which is probably where their mutual admiration came from.