Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!
| Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Bob Kellett |
| Written by | Michael Pertwee |
| Produced by | Andrew Mitchell |
| Starring | Brian Rix Leslie Phillips Joan Sims Joanna Lumley Derek Royle Myra Frances Katy Manning Peter Bland Anita Graham Derek Griffiths Barrie Gosney |
| Music by | Peter Greenwell |
| Distributed by | Rank Organisation |
Release date | 1 April1973 |
Running time | 97 min. |
Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! was based on the popular Whitehall Farce written by Michael Pertwee, who also wrote the screenplay for the film.
Plot Summary
Sir William Mainwaring-Brown - a British Government Minister puts forward a bill to battle filth in the UK but that doesn't stop him having an affair with both Miss Parkyn (his secretary) and Wendy (the wife of a high-up reporter). Opponents to the bill - mainly some hippyies, lead by Johnny, kidnap the Minister's best friend and co-founder of the bill, Barry Ovis just as he is on the way to the church to marry his fiancee, Jean.
Later and following a tip off by Johnny, the police raid the hippies flat. The intention is to discredit Barry Ovis by making it appear that he was involved in an orgy and therefore, remove any credibilty that the Law and Order Bill may have had. Thankfully (for Barry) he escapes before the police discover him and dashes back to Sir William's flat followed by Damina, one of the hippies.
Meanwhile, the Minister is also trying to use the flat to carry on his affairs with both Wendy and Miss Parkyn. The Minister, Barry & Jean try to keep the truth from Inspector Ruff, Wilfred Potts (an ancient MP, who is staying temporarily in the adjourning flat) and Birdie (the Minister's wife). Not only that, but they have to try and deal with the hippies who do their upmost to discredit Mainwaring-Brown and Ovis. Naturally this causes no end of trouble.
Cast
- Brian Rix - Barry Ovis
- Leslie Phillips - Sir William Mainwaring-Brown
- Joan Sims - Lady 'Birdie' Mannering-Brown
- Joanna Lumley - Giselle Parkyn
- Derek Royle - Wilfred Potts
- Myra Frances - Jean
- Katy Manning - Damina
- Peter Bland - Inspector Ruff
- Anita Graham - Wendy
- Barrie Gosney - Police Sergeant
- Derek Griffiths - Johnny
- Corbet Woodall - TV newsreader
- David Battley - Country Yokel
- Gabrielle Daye - Elderly lady
- Diane Langton - Angie
- Aubrey Woods - TV chairman
Trivia
- The film was spun off into a sitcom entitled 'Men of Affairs' for ITV in 1973. Leslie Phillips was unavailable to reprise his role as William Mainwaring-Brown, so the part went to Warren Mitchell, who had found lasting fame as Alf Garnett.