Lock Up Your Daughters!

I saw this film on TV and have waited thirty years to see it again. For me, it is one of the most under-rated films of all time.

Why isn't it more appreciated? Perhaps because you have to listen to the dialogue (which is also 18th Century speech, not Shakespeare but far from modern), or keep track of at least three main plots. This is not a simple 'romp', it is based on work by Vanbrugh and Fielding.

The script is literate and witty, but the overall theme is - sex. In pre-Victorian England, the desire for sexual fulfilment is regarded as a healthy and natural part of life. Men want it, women want it, and they'll do anything to get it.

The film is performed by a great cast. I defy anyone to recognise Christopher Plummer as Foppington under the make-up, wig and costumes. There's one scene where he is hilarious simply getting up out of a chair, as unsteady as a new born deer. After making love for the first time, he explains that he has a servant to do that sort of thing for him.

The rest of the cast is filled with marvellous character actors: Georgia Brown, Jim Dale, Roy Kinnear, Kathleen Harrison, Roy Dotrice, Glynis Johns, Peter Bayliss and Fenella Fielding. Not big names, perhaps, but they fill their roles to perfection. So my advice is: watch the film with care, more than once, to get the flavour of the dialogue, then enjoy the free-spirited age that is brought to life for you.

And, by the way, it's the *fourth* rung that's missing...

Lock Up Your Daughters is one of the best high-spirited comedies I have ever seen.

It is misunderstood since it lacks the "social commentary" values that many films of the day (1969) required to be successful.

The characters are over-the-top satires of everyday people and played to that purpose by all of the actors.

Christopher Plummer shines especially bright as Lord Foppington, a noble with hair too big to fit in the door.

The plot involves the usual 18th century stuff; mistaken identities, thwarted romances, corrupt government officials, and jokes at every turn.

It answers the questions: What happens when 4 rambunctious, eager to party sailors are on leave in a small British coastal town? And, who do they get involved with and how does it all turn out?

Despite doing poorly at the box office, it has great costumes, excellent music(based on the Mermaid Theatre musical of the same name), great,lively acting and sets that are obviously authentic.

That it has never been released on either VHS or DVD is truly a shame, since so many bad movies are released every day.

I reviewed this movie when it was released in 1969. At that time I thought it was absolutely rib-splitting. It deals mainly with the attempts of an English Fop (we're talking the 1700's here) to maintain the chastity of his daughters. It is ribald fare and the comedy a bit along the lines of TOM JONES, but it is worth the price of admission just to see this father, fake cheek mole plopped in place, his finery and lace cuffs set just so, rush from situtation to situation in little prig-ish strides.

I would love to see it released on Video.

When a group of sailors get shore leave, they have only one thing on their minds: women! But in the restrained 1700s, they don't have many options. They can either seek out prostitutes, don elaborate disguises to gain entry to respectable ladies' bedchambers, or attack random women in the street. The latter option proves problematic when the women shout, "Rape!" and they have to explain themselves before a magistrate. Keep in mind this is an over-the-top British comedy and there are no actual rapes.

With hilarious character names like Clumsey, Squeezum, Foppington, Eager, and Lusty, if you're laughing during the first five minutes' introduction, you'll like the rest of the movie. It feels like everyone in the cast had a blast hamming up their naughty jokes and melodramas. Glynis Johns and her husband Peter Bayliss take turns seducing the accused and accuser in each rape trial. Peter "questions" the young lady in his office, while Glynis sees if she can "get anything out of" the amorous young man. Christopher Plummer is all dolled up in his "foppiest" attire, and he flounces around the screen personifying the stereotype of, "no s** please, I'm British." Ian Bannen sneaks into his paramour's room and announces he's going to make love to her. "What do you mean?" she asks, feigning shock and modesty. "What do you think I mean?" he replies with a smirk as he sheds his coat.

I'll watch anything to support the cast of the beloved Carry On series, so it was a treat to see Jim Dale in another raunchy British comedy. He and others often break the fourth wall and make jokes with the audience. Susannah York, Kathleen Harrison, Roy Kinnear, Fenella Fielding, and Roy Dotrice are also among the supporting cast. If you liked Tom Jones or the Carry On movies, rent this very funny movie that is extremely politically incorrect by today's standards.

I saw this film 12 years ago on TNT. It was Susanah York's Birthday and they were showing this film as a double feature with Tom Jones (1963). I have not seen this film on TV since. I took interest in seeing this film because one of the stars is the very funny and talented Jim Dale, as Lusty the sailor. I believe that Dale now does the narration of the Harry Potter books on Casette, but anyway he is quite funny. This is a fast paced comedy. It is not on VHS or DVD. Columbia Pictures should go through their film collection, and consider restoring and releasing this film to DVD. Christopher Plummer is hilarious as Lord Fopington, Ian Bannen is also quite humorous as Ramble the sailor. This is a bawdy comedy, the kind of film one no longer sees, with great production values. ***1/2 stars out of ****