Lock Up Your Daughters!

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 ****

When our local TV station first launched, it filled a lot of its schedule with old British programming. "Lock Up Your Daughters!" was duly aired, and I -- swayed by the opening few seconds of the film -- popped in a blank tape. Best thing I ever did.

The actors are beautifully suited to their characters and bring them to delightful life, complete with appropriate accents (Christopher Plummer's Foppington will leave you in stitches, as will Hoyden and her family). Double entendres abound, plot-line wheels within wheels mix and match the characters, hilarious sight gags lurk in every scene, and risqué comments are made on a regular basis.

I showed the film to friends a few years ago and they called the piece "a lost treasure," as much for the cast as for the story. To this day I can crack up just thinking about the dialog. Should this gem ever find its way to a DVD release, I'll be at the front of the line.

A real find this one. I can see why it flopped. Modern audiences simply cannot relate or understand most Restoration drama, but this is a pretty fair example of two plays translated to film, replete with 18th century language.

Such a pity the story is a bit limp and contrived, but refreshing nonethless.

I went to see this at the theatres when it first came out mostly to follow the career of Christopher Plummer...it was the summer of my first car...and I drove an incredible distance to see it in some obscure little theatre. I couldn't believe my eyes..the ribaldry and overt sexuality reminiscent of Tom Jones had everybody in histerics...but none so much as whenever Christopher Plummer was on the screen as Lord Foppington, a long lanky, powder haired, rouge lipped, belaced and high heeled ,courtly gentleman in satins and feminine finery trapsing thru' the movie like some awkward, flamboyant peacock. I got hysterical...I could hardly breathe ,I laughed so hard I was crying. The whole movie is full of gems..and is well worth watching to catch them all. Dated of course by today's standards..but for its time really very riskee'. See it ...if only for Lord Foppington!