Double Bunk is a British black-and-white comedy film set on a houseboat. It was released in 1961 and stars Ian Carmichael and Sid James.
Plot
Facing eviction from their London flat, newlyweds Jack and Peggy are tricked into buying a rundown houseboat by its owner Alfred Harper and his put-upon wife. Mr Watson, who owns Jack and Peggy’s mooring, soon introduces them to his mooring tariffs and associated surcharges.
Jack's used-car-salesman friend Sid helps him rebuild the engine, and the newlyweds take the boat down the River Thames to Ramsgate with Sid and his girlfriend Sandra as passengers. On the way they have trouble with an official from the Thames Conservancy and a member of the river police.
After Sandra's transistor radio gets misplaced next to the compass, they end up in Calais. With no fuel or supplies they must resort to desperate actions to get themselves and the houseboat back home. Sandra puts on a striptease for Watson, who also happens to be in Calais, so Jack and Sid can "borrow" some of Watson’s fuel and food. The next morning they follow Watson back across the Channel, as their own compass is broken, and enter into a wager with Watson on who can get back to their mooring first. They win the bet when Watson's boat runs aground.
Production
The houseboat, Jasmine Cot, was actually Joan Mary, an Admiralty 48-foot "Personnel Launch, Diesel" conversion. She was based at Newmans Shipyard, 1, Strawberry Vale, Twickenham.
Tagg's Island, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, was a filming location on 26 September 1960.
Soundtrack
The musical score was composed by Stanley Black, and the title song, sung by Sid James and Liz Fraser, was by Stanley Black, Jack Fishman and Michael Pratt (later better known as the actor Mike Pratt).
Release
The film opened at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End on 30 March 1961 and went on general release in the UK on 8 May 1961.
The film went over budget by £4,500 and the producer had to write off personally £5,000.
Cast
Ian Carmichael as Jack
Janette Scott as Peggy
Sid James as Sid
Liz Fraser as Sandra
Dennis Price as Watson
Reginald Beckwith as Harper
Irene Handl as Mrs. Harper
Noel Purcell as O'Malley
Naunton Wayne as 1st Thames Conservancy Officer
Bill Shine as 2nd Thames Conservancy Officer
Michael Shepley as Granville-Carter
Toby Perkins as Pukka Type
Miles Malleson as Rev. Thomas
Jacques Cey as French Official
Hedger Wallace as 1st River Policeman
Terry Scott as 2nd River Policeman
Desmond Roberts as Freighter Captain
Peter Swanwick as Freighter Pilot
Gerald Campion as Charlie
John Harvey as Johnnie
Graham Stark as Flowerman
Gladys Henson as Madame de Sola
Willoughby Goddard as Prospective Purchaser
Marianne Stone as Prospective Purchaser's Wife
Tom Gill as Customs Officer (uncredited)
Critical reception
The New York Times called it an "extremely anemic little British comedy." The Spinning Image called it "a gently amusing feel-good comedy that chugs along nicely. ... You know you're in for a good time as soon as Double Bunk'''s opening credits kick in accompanied by a jaunty ditty sung by co-stars Sid James and Liz Fraser" Britmovie'' wrote, "the supporting cast is a veritable treasure trove of familiar faces, including Sid James, Naunton Wayne, Liz Fraser, Irene Handl, Miles Malleson and Noel Purcell and Dennis Price."