Nothing Barred

I was never a fan of Brian Rix and the genre of comedies in which he appeared, with this one being no exception, left me stone cold! The ludicrous storyline about Rix, thought to be a safe breaker, but is indeed a plumber, being invited to break into a stately home to create maximum public interest and thus generate income for its penniless owner beggars belief, hence I found myself reaching for the off switch after only half an hour of watching this dross. The comedy scenes rely on the usual interminable, unfunny misunderstandings and gaffes, with the hapless Rix, cast as dopey Wilfred Sapling, going from one mishap to another. It's all very silly and cringeworthy, and despite the film sporting a strong supporting cast of well known actors like Bernard Cribbins, Irene Handl, Naughton Wayne and Terry Scott, the film badly misfires and ends up being a very damp squib.

I wouldn't have thought you could take a cast like that and made a film as unfunny as this, but co-producer & star Brian Rix - whose Whitehall Farces (which made the 'Carry On's look like Noel Coward) were incredibly popular on TV when I was a kid - managed it. Even the extensive location work shot in London as it looked in 1960 can't save it.

I recall this being on TV when I was ten, but it had largely disappeared from the schedules by the time I started to take a serious interest in old movies during the seventies, when I would have been swiftly shamed into changing channels; and for once the rest of my family would have been right...

Even the presence of comedy legends such as Brian Rix, Leo Franklyn, Naunton Wayne and Irene Handl cannot save this film. Rix starred regularly in theatrical farces, excerpts from many of which proved hugely popular on BBC TV, but his films, often co-starring Franklyn, lacked the same appeal. Quite frankly, the plot of this one is ludicrous even for a farce and as a result, laughs are few and far between. The prison scene during which Rix pretended to be Leo Franklyn's wife, without a hint of suspicion from the warders, was almost beyond belief. A waste of all the talent involved.

Brian Rix was,in my opinion,the most unfunny comedy actor of his generation.There are so many great character actors appearing,but not one funny line in this whole sorry mess.