The Sandwich Man is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis starring Michael Bentine, with support from a cast of British character actors including Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Norman Wisdom, Terry-Thomas and Ian Hendry. It was written by Hartford-Davis and Bentine.
Plot synopsis
Horace Quilby is a mild-mannered widower living in the London Docklands. His job as a sandwich-board man requires him to wander around London wearing immaculate morning dress (top hat and tails) carrying advertisements. However, his real interest in life is pigeon racing – especially his bird Esmerelda, which is racing from Bordeaux to London – so he keeps calling at places on his route to see if there is any news.
During the course of one day, Quilby encounters a host of eccentric characters and becomes involved in a series of capers. He helps reunite a young model Sue with her errant boyfriend Steven.
Quilby's homing pigeon Esmerelda wins the race, and the whole of his neighbourhood joins in the celebrations.
Cast
Michael Bentine as Horace Quilby / Gungadin, jazz club owner
Dora Bryan as Mrs. DeVere
Harry H. Corbett as Stage-Door Keeper
Bernard Cribbins as Harold, Photographer
Diana Dors as First Billingsgate Lady
Ian Hendry as Policeman on Motorbike
Stanley Holloway as Park Gardener
Wilfrid Hyde-White as Lord Uffingham
Michael Medwin as Sewer Man
Ron Moody as Rowing Coach
Anna Quayle as Second Billingsgate Lady
Terry-Thomas as Scoutmaster
Norman Wisdom as Boxing Vicar
Donald Wolfit as Car Salesman
Suzy Kendall as Sue
Alfie Bass as Model Yachtsman
Fred Emney as Sir Mervyn Moleskin
Sydney Tafler as First Fish Porter
Frank Finlay as Second Fish Porter
Warren Mitchell as Gypsy Sid
David Buck as Steven Mansfield
Tracey Crisp as Girl in the Black Plastic Mac
Earl Cameron as Bus Conductor
Roger Delgado as Abdul, the carpet seller
Leon Thau as Ram
Hugh Futcher as Gogi
Ronnie Stevens as Drunk
Peter Jones as Escapologist (Manfred the Magnificent) John Le Mesurier as Senior Sandwich Man Max Bacon as Chef John Junkin as Chauffeur Gerald Campion as Sandwich Man in Suit of Armour Burt Kwouk as Ice Cream Man David Lodge as Charlie Aubrey Morris as Cedric (The Great) Peter Arne as Gentleman in Rolls-Royce Jeremy Lloyd as Guardsman Michael Trubshawe as Guardsman Ewen Solon as Blind man Michael John Chaplin (Charlie's son) as the pavement artist Brian Cant as the newspaper photographer at street party Nosher Powell as Nosher, the bus driver Joe Gibbons as Man on Mowing Machine Deborah Bishop as Woman taking an unnatural interest in the size of Frank Finlay's sandwich
Production
The film was the second in a short-lived series of co-productions between the National Film Finance Corporation and Rank.
Critical reception
The film was poorly received at the time of its release, critically and commercially.
In contemporary reviews Variety said: "Spotty pic. [...] Gags and situations do not add up to useful comedy."; Kine Weekly called the film a "hilarious romp in colour through London."
Leslie Halliwell wrote: "Spurned when it was first released, this comedy variety show, mostly in mime, can now be seen of a kind popularised by TV, and may have been simply ahead of its time. It certainly seems funnier than it did."
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Known as the Goon that got away, and as the genius behind Potty Time, Michael Bentine was yet another British comedian who failed to repeat his TV and/or radio success on the big screen. This virtually silent comedy was politely considered "ahead of its time" on its release, but, over 30 years later, this euphemism for "not very good" still applies. The cast is all-star, but the film's few pleasures come from Bentine's often inspired mime as he wanders the streets of London with his sandwich board."