The Plank (1979 film)
The Plank is a 30-minute, British slapstick comedy film for television from 1979, which was written and directed by Eric Sykes. This version, which is a remake of the 1967 film The Plank, which was also written and directed by Sykes, was produced by Thames Television and broadcast on the ITV network.
The Plank | |
---|---|
Directed by | Eric Sykes |
Produced by | Dennis Kirkland |
Written by | Eric Sykes |
Starring | Eric Sykes Arthur Lowe |
Music by | Alan Braden |
Release date |
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Running time | 30 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Although not literally a silent film, it has little spoken dialogue. Instead the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects. The soundtrack was composed by Alan Braden and performed by Alan Braden and his orchestra.
SVT used to show the film several times around Christmas and New Year during the 1980s and 1990s.[1]
Outline
When two builders find that a floorboard is missing, they buy a replacement floorboard and return with it through the streets, causing unexpected chaos.
This was the third version of The Plank; the basic idea had originated in an episode called "Sykes and a Plank", which Eric Sykes had written for his BBC television comedy series, Sykes and A... in 1964. This 1979 television version won the prize at the 1980 Festival Rose d'Or, held in Montreux, Switzerland.
Cast
- Eric Sykes
- Arthur Lowe (character portrayed by Tommy Cooper in original)
- Deryck Guyler played P.C "Corky" Turnbell in several episodes of Sykes and a...
- Robert Dorning
- Brian Murphy
- Charlie Drake (played by Roy Castle in original)
- Diana Dors
- Jimmy Edwards (played same character in original film)
- Kenny Lynch
- Frankie Howerd
- Liza Goddard
- Bernard Cribbins
- Lionel Blair
- Wilfrid Hyde-White
- Reg Varney
- Henry Cooper
- Joanna Lumley (also appeared as same character in original film)
- Harry H. Corbett
- Charles Hawtrey
- James Hunt
- Kate O'Mara
- Ann Sidney
- Frank Windsor
References
- "Plankan" (in Swedish). Svensk mediedatabas. Retrieved 31 December 2015.