TotalTelly.co.uk

Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV

Two Way Stretch [1960]


RRP: £12.99
Our Price: £29.95 (subject to change)

Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review

A great British crime comedy always worth another watch, Two Way Stretch is the one about the cosily imprisoned crooks who hatch a scheme to pull off a heist with a perfect alibi by breaking out of their nick, doing the job and then breaking back into the jug again to serve out their sentences. Peter Sellers, usually an eccentric support in these things, takes a rare lead as cocky mastermind Dodger Lane, confident enough to share the screen with performers who would be doing serious time if scene-stealing were an actual offence. The chief delight of the film, obvious inspiration for Blakey from On the Buses, is Lionel Jeffries' bristling, infuriated, hilariously humiliated warder Sidney Crout, forever fuming as Dodger gets away with some new scheme. Also in on the scam: Wilfrid Hyde White as a bogus clergyman of extreme unctuousness, David Lodge as the dim-witted muscle bloke, and Bernard Cribbins in the nice young man part.

The wayward plot finds room for cameos from such national institutions as Beryl Reid, Irene Handl and Liz Fraser. Director Robert Day, probably best known for the Hammer version of She, is nobody's idea of an auteur, but he puts this pacey little gem together perfectly. The British cinema has been turning out an unheralded series of wonderful caper comedies for decades, from The Lavender Hill Mob through A Fish Called Wanda to The Parole Officer; this effort--along with the follow-up The Wrong Arm of the Law--ranks among the best.

On the DVD: Two Way Stretch comes to disc in a nice print. The film is also available as part of the four-disc Peter Sellers Collection.--Kim Newman


One of the funniest films of its generation...
Review date: 2008-05-29 Rating: 10 out of 10

...and any other for that matter!

If you wanna watch comedic genius at it's earliest best, in a thoroughly charming and hysterically funny British comedy film, then please put this close to the top of your list!

All the leads give outstanding accounts of themselves ...but it's Mr Sellers' sublime talent that shines the brightest! Quite simply a gem! 10/10

Similar Products

Reviews


Vintage comedy and vintage Sellars
Review date: 2008-03-18 Rating: 10 out of 10

This has to be one of my favourite comedies even though I only first saw this film in the early 90s. Peter Sellars is in top form as a gang-leader planning and executing another robbery while doing a spot of bird. Bernard Cribbins, Lionel Jeffries and Beryl Reid co-star. It was made at the tail-end of the golden age of British cinema when they really knew how to make films that would last, despite being in black and white. Does anyone think many of todays movies will be enjoyed in 50 years?

A great comic caper in a criminal transfer
Review date: 2007-12-07 Rating: 8 out of 10

Two-Way Stretch is the one where Peter Sellers, Bernard Cribbins and David Lodge break out of prison to commit a robbery, then break back in to provide themselves with the perfect alibi. Unfortunately, their plan and their luxury regime in prison is disrupted by sadistic new chief warder Lionel Jeffries, whose arrival inspires a reel or so of sendups of classic P.O.W. movies such as The Wooden Horse (with Jeffries ending up falling through the tunnel) and Danger Within (with Cribbins literally up faeces creek without a paddle).

The comic highlights may be the prison visitors sequence, with Liz Fraser's stocking tops providing ample diversion for assorted relatives to slip through sacks full of contraband to the inmates, and Beryl Reid's Ladies' League of Prison Reform inspection of the prison's rehabilitation classes, where plant pots hide dice and woodwork cabinets double as props for demonstrations of safe-cracking (straight out of Sergeant Bilko), but the film manages consistently funny throughout, a rarity for the star. Indeed, the film is so good-natured that it's a surprise to find mention of 'n**-n**s' in the script (this was 1962, after all).

With a great cast filled with familiar faces, the undisputed star of the show is Wilbur the carrier pigeon and his unique way of delivering messages. Sadly the print is rather flat and soft. No extras either.


Still Funny Even Today!
Review date: 2007-03-30 Rating: 10 out of 10

It is more than 45 years since I first saw this film on my local ABC Cinema. I enjoyed it tremendously then, and still do today. It remains one of the funniest films of the 50s/60s period, and the reason why is due to the wonderful cast. The story evolves around some jailbirds who plan to break out of prison in order to steal some jewels from a visiting arab prince. The plot intensifies when a new Prison Warden named Crout (the wonderful Lionel Jeffries) imposes a stricter regime making it almost impossible to carry out the breakout. And yet, the three prisoners, Peter Sellars, Bernard Cribbens, and David Lodge do actually succeed in doing just that! What happens next, well you will need to see it. Its very very funny at times.

The film is very entertaining, a laugh a minute. Enhanced by the presence of so many good character actors at that time, Irene Handl, Wilfred Hyde White, and the gorgeous Liz Frazer (she looks stunning in this film!). The final scenes on the train are absolutely hilarious. Ealing Studios were masters during those years in producing fine family comedy films which are still enjoyable today. If you have not seen this film, then do so. For those who are familiar with this film, it is definetly worth adding to your DVD collection. Good picture and sound.

One Of The Funniest Films That I Have Been Priviledged To See
Review date: 2007-03-20 Rating: 10 out of 10

This really very funny film was the obvious inspiration for the creation of Porridge it is so similar in many ways.

A cocky prisoner in the form of Dodger Lane, played by Peter Sellers is the forerunner to Norman Stanley Fletcher, a young thief Lennie, portrayed by Bernard Cribbins is of course Lennie Godber, they even share the same christian name and Jelly Knight is the equivelant of the various other characters such as Bunny Warren and Jock McClaran. Not forgetting of course Prison Officer Sidney Crout who is a dead ringer for the character of Mr Mackay.

A section of the film is even virtually identical to the ending of the Porridge film years later in that a group of prisoners find themselves on the outside and have to break back into jail.

Throw in Wilfred Hyde-White as the wonderfully named Soapy Stevens, organise a diamond raid while having the perfect alibi of being inside and just having one misshap after another and you have got the makings of a classic British film from a classic era.

The first time that I saw this was in 1996 via a Channel 4 transmission, my daughter had just been born and was playing up, I'd been up all night and was tired and was falling asleep when this film came on, not only did it wake me up but had me rolling on the floor in laughter, it cheered me up no end and I've never forgotten the effect that it had on me, I tracked down the video the very next day and was delighted when this DVD version appeared a few years later with vastly improved picture and sound.

The film is part of the legendary Ealing Comedy Classics and the success of this for me was the inspiration on my part to check out various others, there are some really decent ones but non are in the same league as Two Way Stretch, it is quite simply one of the funniest film that I have ever been privileged to see, and judging from my fellow reviewers maximum marks it seems as though many people think the same thing and we all can't be wrong, can we?

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Bernard Cribbins
David Lodge
Maurice Denham
Peter Sellers
Wilfrid Hyde-White

Creators:
Peter Sellers (Primary Contributor)
David Lodge (Primary Contributor)
Geoffrey Faithfull (Cinematographer)
Bert Rule (Editor)
E.M. Smedley-Aston (Producer)
Alan Hackney (Writer)
John Warren (Writer)
Len Heath (Writer)
Vivian Cox (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Momentum Pictures
Manufacturer: Momentum Pictures
EAN: 5060021175830
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Black & White, Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2002-07-08
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Universal, suitable for all
Region code: 2
Running time: 83 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1960
Language: English (Original Language)

Add to Cart

© 2006 Darren Hester, DesignsByDarren.com, Some Rights Reserved.
Valid XHTML 1.0 Transitional