You Must Be Joking! (1965 film)

You Must Be Joking! is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Michael Winner and starring Michael Callan, Lionel Jeffries, and Denholm Elliott.[1]

You Must Be Joking!
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMichael Winner
Produced byCharles H. Schneer
Screenplay byAlan Hackney
Jan Read
from a story by Michael Winner
StarringMichael Callan
Lionel Jeffries
Denholm Elliott
Music byLaurie Johnson
CinematographyGeoffrey Unsworth
Edited byBernard Gribble
Production
company
Ameran
Distributed byColumbia Pictures Corporation (UK)
Release date
3 August 1965 (London)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUK
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Four British soldiers - Sergeant Major McGregor (complete with kilt and bearskin), Captain Tabasco, father of nine Sergeant Clegg, Sergeant Mansfield - and United States Air Force Lieutenant Morton have their initiative tested in a scavenger hunt, set for them by a British Army psychologist, Major Foskett (Terry-Thomas). They are instructed to obtain six symbols of the British way of life. The reward for the winner is to be fast-tracked for promotion and a ten-day, all-expenses-paid trip around the world for two. Among the feats to be accomplished within 48 hours are escaping from a maze, retrieving a rare rose and the mascot from a Rolls-Royce motorcar, and procurement of a lock of hair and an autograph from a popular French singer. The final challenge involves the famous Lutine bell from the Underwriting Room of Lloyd's of London.[2][3] Because of complaints in the past, if any of them get into trouble, the authorities will deny everything. They are ordered to wear civilian clothes and leave behind all their money.

Cast

Production

The film was based on an original story by Michael Winner which was inspired by a real army initiative test where soldiers were asked to get as far away as possible from their camp at Catterick. He hired Alan Hackney, who had written several Boulting Brothers screenplays to do the screenplay.[4]

While looking for finance Winner was approached to make a movie with the Dave Clark Five but Winner did not like the idea. Charles H. Schneer liked the Hackney script and agreed to make it under a deal he had with Columbia and Winner says he suggested John Boorman take over the Dave Clark movie. Winner says Columbia insisted that Michael Callan play a lead role. Winner called the actor "a nice fellow who didn't sell the film in America and didn't help it in England either."[5]

Winner hired a cameraman who felt they could not film in the locations that had been chosen, so Winner replaced him with Geoff Unsworth. Johnny Speight did some uncredited writing on the film.[6]

Reception

Winner says the film received good reviews but was not popular at the box office.[7]

  • TV Guide called the film, " Lunacy and laughs galore, with director Winner's gimmicky style much in evidence."[3]
  • Hal Erickson wrote in The New York Times, " Director Michael Winner was still in his "mad mod" period when he lensed the wacky goings-on of You Must be Joking? His Death Wish pictures of the 1970s were in 1965 as remote as another galaxy."[8]

References
  1. YOU MUST BE JOKING! Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 32, Iss. 372, (Jan 1, 1965): 140.
  2. "You Must Be Joking! | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  3. "You Must Be Joking! Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  4. Winner loc 1562 of 5856
  5. Winner loc 1567 of 5856
  6. Winner loc 1573 of 5856
  7. Winner loc 1609 of 5856
  8. "You-Must-Be-Joking- – Trailer – Cast – Showtimes". NYTimes.com. Retrieved 8 March 2014.

Note

Winner, Michael (2004). Winner Take All: A life of Sorts (Kindle ed.).

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