Le Knack... et comment l'avoir

Original title: The Knack ...and How to Get It

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

Rita Tushingham in Le Knack... et comment l'avoir (1965)

Cool, sophisticated Tolen (Ray Brooks) has a monopoly on womanizing - with a long like of conquests to prove it - while the naïve, awkward Colin (Michael Crawford) desperately wants a piece of it. But when Colin falls for an innocent country girl (Rita Tushingham), it's not long before the self-assured Tolen moves in for the kill. Is all fair in love and war, or can Colin get the the knack and beat Tolen at his own game?

Play trailer3:42

1 Video

48 Photos

Comedy

A young school teacher tries to master the art of flirtation using his neighbor's skills.A young school teacher tries to master the art of flirtation using his neighbor's skills.A young school teacher tries to master the art of flirtation using his neighbor's skills.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

3.9K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 6 BAFTA Awards
- 5 wins & 9 nominations total

Videos1

Trailer 3:42

Official Trailer

Photos48

+ 41

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Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The Ann Jellicoe play on which this movie is based is a much straighter affair. When Richard Lester came on board, he added his own unique touches such as straight-to-camera direct addresses, humorous subtitles and a Greek chorus of disapproving members of "the older generation".

Quotes
Nancy Jones: Rape!
Woman in House: Not today thank you.

Crazy credits
The closing credits (cast and crew) consist of rows of identical photographs and character/actor names, arranged like a series of photographer's contact prints of a strip of negatives.

Connections
Featured in Hollywood U.K. British Cinema in the Sixties: Northern Lights (1993)

Soundtracks
The Knack (Main Theme)
Written by John Barry

User reviews45

Featured review

8/10

Screwball Sixties Silliness

This is a manic Richard Lester comedy very similar to "A Hard Days Night," and if you liked that movie you'll like this one. It's a somewhat rambling froth-of-life tale about an awkward young man (Michael Crawford) who wants to learn how to pick up girls from his popular housemate (Ray Brooks). Brooks' attempt to instruct Crawford in the mysteries of the knack go hilariously awry when the pair encounter the flighty Rita Tushingham.

I'm a little surprised that this won a Palme d'Or, but it IS very funny in a not-too over-the-top way. It's dramatically superior to contemporary early '60's comedy, and the principals turn in wonderful performances. If you like it, be sure to check out Lester's sunny nonsense "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and the distinctly darker "How I Won the War."