His and Hers

Terry-Thomas goes missing while walking across the Sahara, researching his new book for publisher Wilfred Hdye-White. When he finally steps off the plane, bearded and dressed like a Bedouin, wife Janette Scott is glad to see him, and Hyde-White is already counting the profits. But TT now thinks like a Bedouin, which annoys Miss Scott, and the book he writes is nothing at all like his earlier best sellers, so they all decide to split up.... except that TT and Miss Scott split their house down the middle.

It's a comedy competently directed by Brian Desmond Hurst near the end of his directorial career, and very clear in what is going to happen all the way through. There are few surprises, although the performers get all the laughs they can out of the situations, with Nicole Maury as 1: French; 2: a photographer; 3: the would-be girlfriend of TT; and 4: someone who can kill a goat with a single punch.

Which gives you an idea of the humor.

Terry-Thomas plays a writer whose editor sends him off on adventures to inspire his books. An effort about his experience of being lost in the desert and adopted by a Bedouin tribe is rejected, however, but not before he's adopted the lifestyle - and the dress - of the tribe; much to the distaste of his wife (Janette Scott). The couple end up splitting their home and their responsibilities in halves which leads to comic situations that, despite an excellent supporting cast that includes several 'Carry On' regulars, never quite manages to achieve the levels one might hope for. Not at all bad, but leaves a distinct feeling that it should have been better.

"His and Hers" isn't anywhere near the top comedy that Terry-Thomas made, but it is quite good. The plot is certainly original. Thomas plays Reggie Blake, a world adventurer and author who returns home to England after having been lost in the sands of the Sahara Desert in Africa. But, unlike his other escapades, all of which lead to substantial income form the books he writes about his experience, this one has an effect on Blake. It took much longer, and just long enough for him to "take to" the ways of the Bedouins of the deserts. Well, after his return home, holding onto what might be called a "desert" mentality and persona, trouble breaks out - first with his publisher and then at home, with wife Fran. Janette Scott plays her part very well.

Most people should enjoy this film. As a straight comedy or comedy-romance it scores a six or seven. But masked within this plot is a very subtle satire that raises the film to 8 stars in my book. Reggie and his publisher, Wilfrid Hyde-White's Charles Lunton, created his adventuresome character and role for one reason only - for the money. Reggie sets off on an adventure to conquer some unusual feat that no one has yet done, and then to write about it. The two make gobs of money on the sale of his books. Of course, there are shenanigans in those very adventures, and those come out around the middle of the film. They feed the satire nicely.

One can't always believe what one reads, even in books, especially about celebrities. Wouldn't the social media of today be a great subject for satire? I wonder if one could even be made, with the media moguls of today. Or if so, maybe so few people would be interested or care to go see it.

This is one of the funnierst and very different films that I have seen Wilfrid Hyde-White in. He bolsters the comedy very well. Here are some sample lines from this film.

Feix McGregor, "Babies taste delicious, no?" Reggie Blake, "I don't know. I've never eaten one."

Reggie. "Who's Brishin?" McGregor, "One of my closest friends. I hate him."

Reggie, "What do you want?" McGregor, "Why should I beat around the bush? It's all over town."

Reggie, "It's funny that every time you stab me in the back, you quote Shelley."

Simone Rolfe, "Remember the night the sheik invited me to join his harem?" Reggie, 'Yes I remember you said you couldn't because you weren't a member of the union."

Reggie, handing Simone a drink he had just made, "Desert Fires, remember?" Simone, "Ah, how could I forget. Wow!" Reggie, "Don't spill any - you'll burn the rug.... Do you remember when we used to sit down on the ground to drink 'em?" Simone, "Oh, yes, of course - to keep from falling."

This starts off well and is reasonably amusing,however after about 30 minutes it seems to literally loose the plot and spiral off into sub plots.To add to this there is an extremely irritating young boy who is clearly reacting to directions given live off camera,plus a rather inept and unintelligible French actress who appeared in a couple of films in the UK for some unknown reason.Disappointing.