That Riviera Touch
This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2013) |
That Riviera Touch | |
---|---|
Directed by | Cliff Owen |
Written by | Peter Blackmore Dick Hills and Sid Green |
Produced by | Hugh Stewart |
Starring | Eric Morecambe Ernie Wise Suzanne Lloyd |
Cinematography | Jack Asher |
Edited by | Gerry Hambling |
Music by | Ron Goodwin |
Distributed by | Rank |
Release dates |
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Running time | 98 minutes |
Language | English |
That Riviera Touchis a 1966 Britishcomedy filmdirected byCliff Owenand starringEric MorecambeandErnie Wise.[1]It is the second feature-length film made by the comedy duoMorecambe and Wise.
Plot
[edit]After Eric Simpson nearly givesThe Queenaparking ticketin London, he and Ernest Clark decide to take a holiday in the south of France. However, when they arrive there, they become unwittingly involved in a jewel theft when the thief Le Pirate decides to use them to smuggle some precious jewels out of the country. He sends the two Britons to a sinister villa and sends the beautiful Claudette, a member of his criminal gang, to keep Eric and Ernie occupied while he carries out the various stages of his plan. Confusion ensues however, as the two battle for the affections of Claudette and Eric accidentally wins a large sum of money at a casino. Eventually Eric and Ernie start to get suspicious and begin to investigate...
Cast
[edit]- Eric Morecambeas Eric Simpson
- Ernie Wiseas Ernest Clark
- Suzanne Lloydas Claudette
- Paul Stassinoas Le Pirate
- Armand Mestral as Inspector Duval
- Gerald Lawson as Coco
- George Eugeniouas Marcel
- George Pastellas Ali
- Alexandra Bastedoas girl at roulette table
- Nicole Shelby as woman in casino
- Peter Jeffreyas Mauron
- Francis Matthewsas hotel manager
- Michael Forrestas Pierre
- Paul Danquahas Hassim
Release
[edit]The film opened at theLeicester Square Theatrein theWest End of Londonon 24 March 1966.
Reception
[edit]Critical
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletinwrote: "Diamond-sharp photography byOtto Heller,an appealing performance by Suzanne Lloyd, and an excellent little character sketch by George Eugeniou as a bizarre gang-member. Otherwise this is a dismal affair of antediluvian comic routines – strictly for hardened Morecambe and Wise fans. "[2]
TheRadio TimesGuide to Filmsgave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Morecambe and Wise head for the south of France in what starts out looking like a customised remake of the oldLaurel and HardycomedySaps at Sea.But Eric and Ernie's regular writers, Sid Green and Dick Hills, quickly run into the problem that blighted all three of their movies; the pair's relaxed, intimate style might have been perfect for the sketch format of their TV show, but it was totally wrong for sustaining narratives. Few laughs. "[3]
Leslie Halliwellsaid: "Disappointing star comedy ending in a surfboard chase."[4]
Box office
[edit]That Riviera Touchwas among the 15 most popular films at the British box office in 1966.[5]Hugh Stewart says that due to rising costs and the fact the film did not do well in America, however, it barely got its costs back.[6]
References
[edit]- ^"That Riviera Touch".British Film Institute Collections Search.Retrieved13 April2024.
- ^"That Riviera Touch".The Monthly Film Bulletin.33(384): 77. 1 January 1966 – via ProQuest.
- ^Radio Times Guide to Films(18th ed.). London:Immediate Media Company.2017. p. 920.ISBN9780992936440.
- ^Halliwell, Leslie (1989).Halliwell's Film Guide(7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 1005.ISBN0586088946.
- ^"Most popular star for third time."The Times[London, England] 31 Dec. 1966: 5.
- ^"Hugh Stewart".British Entertainment History Project.22 November 1989.
External links
[edit]
- 1966 films
- 1960s crime comedy films
- British crime comedy films
- Films scored by Ron Goodwin
- Films about vacationing
- Films directed by Cliff Owen
- Films set in London
- Films set on the French Riviera
- Films shot at Pinewood Studios
- Morecambe and Wise
- 1966 comedy films
- 1960s English-language films
- 1960s British films
- English-language crime comedy films
- 1960s British comedy film stubs