Donal Donnelly, Michael Crawford, Ray Brooks, Rita Tushingham, William Dexter

Fresh from the playfully exuberant A Hard Day's Night (1964), director Richard Lester applies the same acrobatic, tongue-in-cheek style to this delightfully frivolous take on swinging London and the s...( read more  read more... )exual revolution. Gawky young Michael Crawford is a meek landlord who vies with his ladies-man lodger Ray Brooks for the attentions of spirited funny-face Rita Tushingham, whom he literally picks up while pushing his new brass bed through the streets of London. Lester floats his sweet nothing of a goofy romance with an offbeat sense of humor, a compendium of sight gags and non sequiturs stirred in with devil-may-care spirit, and a pair of winning leads. Crawford's underdog desperation and endearing naiveté makes for an appealingly nerdish hero, but it's Tushingham's kooky charm and deft comic delivery that steal the film. A lovely score by John Barry balances the energy and invention with a tender romanticism. --Sean Axmaker

Flixster Users

73% liked it

977 ratings

Critics

88% liked it

8 critics

Unrated, 84 min.

Directed by: Richard Lester

Release Date: June 3, 1965

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DVD Release Date: September 17, 2002

 

Stats: 93 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (93)


  • May 5, 2009
    A quirky film, full of fun and silliness "swinging 60's" style! It has a Benny Hill meets Austin Powers sort of feel to it.
    As a fan of Ms. Tushingham I'll admit that my feelings are a little biased, but she is definately the glue here. Though the rest of the cast does a fine...( read more) job as well.
    We were surprised to see several "up and comings stars pop up through out, including several future cast memebers from The Vicar Of Dibley! A very young John Bluthal (Frank) and someone who looked and sounded like a very young Roger Lloyd-Pack (Owen) as one of the (uncredited ?) who heckled Rita from the windows as she passed.
    In any case it's a fun little jaunt if you like films that are more style then substance.
  • July 11, 2007
    A group of young adults learn about love, life and fun in Black & White 1965 London. Tolen is a womanizer. Rita Tushingham is a woman. We also have good Colin and Tom. The dialogue is snappy and wild, often interjected with comments on the side by random citizens. The scenes wher...( read more)e they're pushing a bed through the streets is amazing. The 60's swinging music makes this movie so much more more. Each major character has realized something by the end of the adventure. It's charming stuff.
  • November 12, 2008
    Very much a product of it's time, which is probably why I found it produced smiles rather than full on laughs. That being said it still manages to be rather charming and enjoyable. Richard Lester does a good job directing, continuing the style of "A Hard Day's Night". Rita Tushin...( read more)gham is also good in her girl from the North role.
    Just a little fact, "The Knack" features a few rising actresses in thier first (be it uncredited) roles. Jane Birkin as the girl on the motorcycle, Charlotte Rampling as the girl water skiing and Jacqueline Bisset, but I didn't manage to spot her!

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  • December 5, 2008
    more good stuff from Lester
  • August 27, 2008
    nominated for best foreign film at the golden globes
  • March 11, 2008
    Comédie très drôle et très fine avec en toile de fond le swingin london (et john barry à la musique!) , réalisé par richard lester, le montage et la forme sont originales.
    ce film a gagné la palme d'or, et c'est vraiment pas sans raison, à voir absolument pour tous les cinéphiles
  • November 7, 2007
    I adore this film, with its silly British humour. The scene that does it for me is the trio travelling on this brass bed around London, for the 'un-educated' one who wants to get more ladies.
  • April 30, 2007
    Very strange movie, about one man trying to get laid. The best part is when the three main characters go in search of the perfect bed, and when they find it, they ride the bed through the streets of London!
  • March 10, 2007
    pretty good very english

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