The Knack... and How to Get It (1965)

78% of critics liked it
(9 reviews)
69% of users liked it
(1,100 ratings)

Colin (Michael Crawford, who much later won a Tony Award for his role in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera) is an uptight schoolteacher whose housemate, Tolen (Ray Brooks) is a consummate womanizer. Colin imagines a long line of young women in tight white sweaters on his stairwell, waiting to get into… More Colin (Michael Crawford, who much later won a Tony Award for his role in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera) is an uptight schoolteacher whose housemate, Tolen (Ray Brooks) is a consummate womanizer. Colin imagines a long line of young women in tight white sweaters on his stairwell, waiting to get into Tolen's room. Jealous of Tolen's incredible success with the ladies, Colin asks Tolen for advice on how to get a girl. When Tolen's advice doesn't seem very practical, Colin decides that his first order of business is to get a bigger bed. Colin is also trying to find a third roommate to take a spare room. Tom (Donal Donnelly), who seems compelled to paint everything in sight, happens by the house, and inserts himself in the spare room without so much as saying "hello." Nancy (Rita Tushingham of A Taste of Honey) is new in town, and wanders the streets of London in a fruitless search for the YWCA. She runs into Colin and Tom at the dump, where they are procuring a gigantic bed. They offer her a ride, and proceed to race through London on the bed. Colin seems too shy to speak much to Nancy, despite Tom's encouragement. Eventually, the trio reach Colin's house, where Tolen works his gruff magic on Nancy, and havoc ensues. Capturing late 1960s London in black-and-white, Richard Lester's The Knack. . .and How to Get It was released between the director's two successes with the Beatles, A Hard Day's Night and Help. The script, by Charles Wood (An Awfully Big Adventure) is based on a play by Ann Jellicoe. Future stars Jacqueline Bisset, Charlotte Rampling, and Jane Birkin appear briefly amid all the attractive young women in the film. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Richard Lester
Written By: Charles Wood, Ann Jellicoe
Genres: Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1965 Wide
On DVD: Sep 17, 2002
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Lester's kooky-fey take on British alienation makes the Carry On movies look like Losey's The Servant
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Embarrassingly crude and dated Swinging Sixties tale.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Everything about the film feels genuine and uncalculated, and it finally comes across as one joyous celebration of life and of being alive.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Poor Michael Crawford needs help from his friend to get a girlfriend, at least he thinks he needs help. This movie is pretty funny most of the time, but it's not all that interesting, it's just entertaining.
Pierluigi P

Lively and extravagant sexual satire. Richard Lester's trademark blend of cinematic anarchism, surrealistic sketches and slap-stick comedy come perfectly in the backdrop of the swinging sixties London and its hedonistic inhabitants: mods and rockers coexisting with hostile… More
Lively and extravagant sexual satire. Richard Lester's trademark blend of cinematic anarchism, surrealistic sketches and slap-stick comedy come perfectly in the backdrop of the swinging sixties London and its hedonistic inhabitants: mods and rockers coexisting with hostile hordes of middle-aged squares.
Robert C

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… More
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 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.
Lafe F

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 where… More
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 where 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.
Emily B

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… More
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 Tushingham 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! <a href="http://s135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/?action=view&current=knack_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q156/bozley04/knack_02.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Cast

            Rita Tushingham as Nancy Jones

            Ray Brooks as Tolen

            Michael Crawford as Colin

            Donal Donnelly as Tom

            John Bluthal as Father

            Wensley Pithey as Teacher

            Lucy Bartlett as Water Skier

            Timothy Bateson as Junkman

            Jacqueline Bisset as Extra

            George Chisholm as Porter

            Peter Copley as Picture Owner

            William Dexter as Dress Shop Owner

            Charles Dyer as Man in Photo Booth

            Kenneth Farrington
            
            Vincent Harding
            
            Rose Hillier as Unsuitable Customer

            Julian Holloway
            
            Bruce Lacey as Surveyor's Assistant

            Helen Lennox as Woman in Photo Booth

            Dandy Nichols as Landlady

            Charlotte Rampling as Water Skier

            Frank Sieman as Surveyor

            Marlo Thomas as Female Teacher

            Wanda Ventham as Gym Mistress

            Charles Wood as Soldier

            Walter Horsbrugh as Old Man

            John Porter Davison as Guardsman

            Katherine Page as Woman in House
See full cast