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{{Infobox film | {{Infobox film | ||
| image = TwoWayStretchPoster.jpg | |||
| image = | |||
| caption = Original poster | | caption = Original poster | ||
| director = [[Robert Day (director)|Robert Day]] | | director = [[w:Robert Day (director)|Robert Day]] | ||
| producer = [[Michael Smedley-Aston|E. M. Smedley-Aston]] | | producer = [[w:Michael Smedley-Aston|E. M. Smedley-Aston]] | ||
| writer = [[John Warren (actor)|John Warren]]<br />Len Heath<br />[[Vivian Cox]]<br />[[Alan Hackney]]<br />''(add'l dialogue)'' | | writer = [[w:John Warren (actor)|John Warren]]<br />Len Heath<br />[[w:Vivian Cox|Vivian Cox]]<br />[[w:Alan Hackney|Alan Hackney]]<br />''(add'l dialogue)'' | ||
| starring = [[Peter Sellers]]<br />[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]<br />[[Maurice Denham]]<br>[[Lionel Jeffries]]<br>[[Beryl Reid]]<br>[[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]]<br>[[Irene Handl]]<br>[[Liz Fraser]]<br>[[Bernard Cribbins]] | | starring = [[Peter Sellers]]<br />[[Wilfrid Hyde-White]]<br />[[Maurice Denham]]<br>[[Lionel Jeffries]]<br>[[Beryl Reid]]<br>[[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]]<br>[[Irene Handl]]<br>[[Liz Fraser]]<br>[[w:Bernard Cribbins|Bernard Cribbins]] | ||
| music = [[Ken Jones (music)|Ken Jones]] | | music = [[w:Ken Jones (music)|Ken Jones]] | ||
| cinematography = [[Geoffrey Faithfull]] | | cinematography = [[w:Geoffrey Faithfull|Geoffrey Faithfull]] | ||
| editing = Bert Rule | | editing = Bert Rule | ||
| distributor = [[British Lion Films]] {{small|(UK)}} | | distributor = [[w:British Lion Films|British Lion Films]] {{small|(UK)}} | ||
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1960|2|11|UK}} <ref name="Art & Hue">{{cite web|url=https://artandhue.com/shop/two-way-stretch-group/|title=Two-Way Stretch Group |work=Art & Hue |date=2021 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> | | released = {{Film date|df=y|1960|2|11|UK}} <ref name="Art & Hue">{{cite web|url=https://artandhue.com/shop/two-way-stretch-group/|title=Two-Way Stretch Group |work=Art & Hue |date=2021 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> | ||
| runtime = 83 minutes | | runtime = 83 minutes | ||
| Line 20: | Line 16: | ||
| budget = | | budget = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''Two-Way Stretch''''', is a 1960 British [[comedy film]], about a group of prisoners who plan to break out of [[Prison|jail]], commit a [[robbery]], and then break back into jail again, thus giving them the perfect [[Wiktionary:Alibi|alibi]] – that they were behind bars when the robbery occurred.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b946533|title=Two Way Stretch (1960)|publisher=}}</ref> However, their plans are disrupted by the arrival of a strict new Chief Prison Officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/k6ppp/two-way-stretch/|title=Two Way Stretch – review – cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times}}</ref> | '''''Two-Way Stretch''''', is a 1960 British [[w:comedy film|comedy film]], about a group of prisoners who plan to break out of [[w:Prison|jail]], commit a [[w:robbery|robbery]], and then break back into jail again, thus giving them the perfect [[Wiktionary:Alibi|alibi]] – that they were behind bars when the robbery occurred.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6b946533|title=Two Way Stretch (1960)|publisher=}}</ref> However, their plans are disrupted by the arrival of a strict new Chief Prison Officer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/k6ppp/two-way-stretch/|title=Two Way Stretch – review – cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times}}</ref> | ||
The film was directed by [[Robert Day (director)|Robert Day]] from a screenplay by [[Vivian Cox]], [[John Warren (actor)|John Warren]] and Len Heath, with additional dialogue by [[Alan Hackney]].<ref name=bfi /><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CH_GCwAAQBAJ&q=two+way+stretch+vivian+cox&pg=PA121|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture|first=Harris M. Lentz|last=III|date=17 May 2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786456451|via=Google Books}}</ref> The film boasts a cast of characters played by, among others, [[Peter Sellers]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Lionel Jeffries]] and [[Bernard Cribbins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94277/Two-Way-Stretch/|title=Two-Way Stretch (1961) - Overview - TCM.com|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref> | The film was directed by [[w:Robert Day (director)|Robert Day]] from a screenplay by [[w:Vivian Cox|Vivian Cox]], [[w:John Warren (actor)|John Warren]] and Len Heath, with additional dialogue by [[w:Alan Hackney|Alan Hackney]].<ref name=bfi /><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CH_GCwAAQBAJ&q=two+way+stretch+vivian+cox&pg=PA121|title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture|first=Harris M. Lentz|last=III|date=17 May 2010|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9780786456451|via=Google Books}}</ref> The film boasts a cast of characters played by, among others, [[Peter Sellers]], [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]], [[Lionel Jeffries]] and [[w:Bernard Cribbins|Bernard Cribbins]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/94277/Two-Way-Stretch/|title=Two-Way Stretch (1961) - Overview - TCM.com|website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref> | ||
==Plot== | ==Plot== | ||
Three prisoners nearing the end of their jail sentences, "Dodger" Lane, "Jelly" Knight and "Lennie the Dip", are visited by a [[vicar]] seeking to find employment for them. He is actually "Soapy" Stevens, a conman, who proposes a large-scale [[diamond]] robbery. They will also all have alibis, because they will break out of prison, commit the robbery and then break back in. With the assistance of Dodger's girlfriend Ethel and Lennie's mother the trio smuggle themselves out in a prison van. The operation is almost foiled by the disciplinarian "Sour" Crout, the new chief prison officer. Everything goes to plan and the trio hide the diamonds in the Governor's office until they are released and can take them away. All goes well until the sack of diamonds is lost on a train. Stevens is recognised and arrested, but the others get away. | Three prisoners nearing the end of their jail sentences, "Dodger" Lane, "Jelly" Knight and "Lennie the Dip", are visited by a [[w:vicar|vicar]] seeking to find employment for them. He is actually "Soapy" Stevens, a conman, who proposes a large-scale [[w:diamond|diamond]] robbery. They will also all have alibis, because they will break out of prison, commit the robbery and then break back in. With the assistance of Dodger's girlfriend Ethel and Lennie's mother the trio smuggle themselves out in a prison van. The operation is almost foiled by the disciplinarian "Sour" Crout, the new chief prison officer. Everything goes to plan and the trio hide the diamonds in the Governor's office until they are released and can take them away. All goes well until the sack of diamonds is lost on a train. Stevens is recognised and arrested, but the others get away. | ||
==Cast== | ==Cast== | ||
| Line 32: | Line 28: | ||
* [[Lionel Jeffries]] as Chief Prison Officer "Sour" Crout | * [[Lionel Jeffries]] as Chief Prison Officer "Sour" Crout | ||
* [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]] as "Soapy" Stevens | * [[Wilfrid Hyde-White]] as "Soapy" Stevens | ||
* [[Bernard Cribbins]] as Lennie ("The Dip") Price | * [[w:Bernard Cribbins|Bernard Cribbins]] as Lennie ("The Dip") Price | ||
* [[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]] as "Jelly" Knight | * [[David Lodge (actor)|David Lodge]] as "Jelly" Knight | ||
* [[Irene Handl]] as Mrs Price | * [[Irene Handl]] as Mrs Price | ||
| Line 39: | Line 35: | ||
* [[Beryl Reid]] as Miss Pringle | * [[Beryl Reid]] as Miss Pringle | ||
* [[George Woodbridge (actor)|George Woodbridge]] as Chief Prison Officer Jenkins | * [[George Woodbridge (actor)|George Woodbridge]] as Chief Prison Officer Jenkins | ||
* [[Edwin Brown (actor)|Edwin Brown]] as Warder Charlie | * [[w:Edwin Brown (actor)|Edwin Brown]] as Warder Charlie | ||
* [[Cyril Chamberlain]] as Gate Warder – Day | * [[w:Cyril Chamberlain|Cyril Chamberlain]] as Gate Warder – Day | ||
* [[Wallas Eaton]] as Gate Warder – Night | * [[Wallas Eaton]] as Gate Warder – Night | ||
* [[William Abney (actor)|William Abney]] as Visiting Room Warder | * [[w:William Abney (actor)|William Abney]] as Visiting Room Warder | ||
* [[Thorley Walters]] as Colonel Parkright | * [[w:Thorley Walters|Thorley Walters]] as Colonel Parkright | ||
* [[John Wood (English actor)|John Wood]] as Captain | * [[w:John Wood (English actor)|John Wood]] as Captain | ||
* [[Robert James (actor)|Robert James]] as Police Superintendent | * [[w:Robert James (actor)|Robert James]] as Police Superintendent | ||
* [[Walter Hudd]] as Reverend Patterson | * [[w:Walter Hudd|Walter Hudd]] as Reverend Patterson | ||
* [[Mario Fabrizi]] as Jones | * [[Mario Fabrizi]] as Jones | ||
* [[Warren Mitchell]] as Tailor | * [[Warren Mitchell]] as Tailor | ||
* [[John Glyn-Jones]] as Lawyer | * [[w:John Glyn-Jones|John Glyn-Jones]] as Lawyer | ||
* [[Arthur Mullard]] as Fred | * [[Arthur Mullard]] as Fred | ||
* [[Ian Wilson (actor)|Ian Wilson]] as Milkman | * [[w:Ian Wilson (actor)|Ian Wilson]] as Milkman | ||
* Edward Dentith as Detective | * Edward Dentith as Detective | ||
* [[John Harvey (actor)|John Harvey]] as Governor Rockhampton Prison | * [[w:John Harvey (actor)|John Harvey]] as Governor Rockhampton Prison | ||
{{div col end}} | {{div col end}} | ||
==Production== | ==Production== | ||
[[File:South Cavalry Barracks Aldershot 2021.jpg|thumb|right|The gates of the former South Cavalry Barracks in [[Aldershot]] stood in for the prison gates in the film]] | [[File:South Cavalry Barracks Aldershot 2021.jpg|thumb|right|The gates of the former South Cavalry Barracks in [[w:Aldershot|Aldershot]] stood in for the prison gates in the film]] | ||
The prison scenes were filmed at the South Cavalry Barracks at [[Aldershot]], and the security van robbery at Pirbright Arch in the village of [[Brookwood, Surrey|Brookwood]] in [[Surrey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelstreets.com/index.php?option=com_films_online&task=view&id=1062|title=Reel Streets|website=www.reelstreets.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdca.org.uk/forumtwo/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=392|title=bdca.org.uk • View topic – 1960 film "Two Way Stretch"|website=www.bdca.org.uk}}</ref> | The prison scenes were filmed at the South Cavalry Barracks at [[w:Aldershot|Aldershot]], and the security van robbery at Pirbright Arch in the village of [[w:Brookwood, Surrey|Brookwood]] in [[w:Surrey|Surrey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reelstreets.com/index.php?option=com_films_online&task=view&id=1062|title=Reel Streets|website=www.reelstreets.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bdca.org.uk/forumtwo/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=392|title=bdca.org.uk • View topic – 1960 film "Two Way Stretch"|website=www.bdca.org.uk}}</ref> | ||
==Release== | ==Release== | ||
| Line 66: | Line 62: | ||
''Two-Way Stretch'' was the fourth most popular film at the British box office in 1960. | ''Two-Way Stretch'' was the fourth most popular film at the British box office in 1960. | ||
In ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Bosley Crowther]] gave it a positive review, writing, "the script by John Warren and Len Heath follows a straight line and is clever and full of good Cockney wit. Robert Day's direction is lively, in the vein of civilized farce, and the performances are delicious, right down the line," concluding, "Mr. Sellers is still on the rise."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9903E1DA1739EE32A25757C2A9679C946091D6CF|title=Movie Reviews|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 November 2021}}</ref> | In ''[[w:The New York Times|The New York Times]]'', [[w:Bosley Crowther|Bosley Crowther]] gave it a positive review, writing, "the script by John Warren and Len Heath follows a straight line and is clever and full of good Cockney wit. Robert Day's direction is lively, in the vein of civilized farce, and the performances are delicious, right down the line," concluding, "Mr. Sellers is still on the rise."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9903E1DA1739EE32A25757C2A9679C946091D6CF|title=Movie Reviews|newspaper=The New York Times|date=11 November 2021}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 75: | Line 71: | ||
* {{Allmovie title|51460}} | * {{Allmovie title|51460}} | ||
{{ | {{DEFAULTSORT:Two-Way Stretch}} | ||
[[Category:1960 films]] | [[Category:1960 films]] | ||
[[Category:1960s crime comedy films]] | [[Category:1960s crime comedy films]] | ||
| Line 86: | Line 81: | ||
[[Category:1960 comedy films]] | [[Category:1960 comedy films]] | ||
[[Category:British Lion Films films]] | [[Category:British Lion Films films]] | ||
[[Category:British comedy films]] | |||
Latest revision as of 20:29, 8 February 2023
| Two-Way Stretch | |
|---|---|
 Original poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Day |
| Written by | John Warren Len Heath Vivian Cox Alan Hackney (add'l dialogue) |
| Produced by | E. M. Smedley-Aston |
| Starring | Peter Sellers Wilfrid Hyde-White Maurice Denham Lionel Jeffries Beryl Reid David Lodge Irene Handl Liz Fraser Bernard Cribbins |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
| Edited by | Bert Rule |
| Music by | Ken Jones |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Two-Way Stretch, is a 1960 British comedy film, about a group of prisoners who plan to break out of jail, commit a robbery, and then break back into jail again, thus giving them the perfect alibi – that they were behind bars when the robbery occurred.[2] However, their plans are disrupted by the arrival of a strict new Chief Prison Officer.[3]
The film was directed by Robert Day from a screenplay by Vivian Cox, John Warren and Len Heath, with additional dialogue by Alan Hackney.[2][4] The film boasts a cast of characters played by, among others, Peter Sellers, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Lionel Jeffries and Bernard Cribbins.[5]
Plot
Three prisoners nearing the end of their jail sentences, "Dodger" Lane, "Jelly" Knight and "Lennie the Dip", are visited by a vicar seeking to find employment for them. He is actually "Soapy" Stevens, a conman, who proposes a large-scale diamond robbery. They will also all have alibis, because they will break out of prison, commit the robbery and then break back in. With the assistance of Dodger's girlfriend Ethel and Lennie's mother the trio smuggle themselves out in a prison van. The operation is almost foiled by the disciplinarian "Sour" Crout, the new chief prison officer. Everything goes to plan and the trio hide the diamonds in the Governor's office until they are released and can take them away. All goes well until the sack of diamonds is lost on a train. Stevens is recognised and arrested, but the others get away.
Cast
- Peter Sellers as "Dodger" Lane
- Lionel Jeffries as Chief Prison Officer "Sour" Crout
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as "Soapy" Stevens
- Bernard Cribbins as Lennie ("The Dip") Price
- David Lodge as "Jelly" Knight
- Irene Handl as Mrs Price
- Liz Fraser as Ethel
- Maurice Denham as Horatio Bennett, the Prison Governor
- Beryl Reid as Miss Pringle
- George Woodbridge as Chief Prison Officer Jenkins
- Edwin Brown as Warder Charlie
- Cyril Chamberlain as Gate Warder – Day
- Wallas Eaton as Gate Warder – Night
- William Abney as Visiting Room Warder
- Thorley Walters as Colonel Parkright
- John Wood as Captain
- Robert James as Police Superintendent
- Walter Hudd as Reverend Patterson
- Mario Fabrizi as Jones
- Warren Mitchell as Tailor
- John Glyn-Jones as Lawyer
- Arthur Mullard as Fred
- Ian Wilson as Milkman
- Edward Dentith as Detective
- John Harvey as Governor Rockhampton Prison
Production
The gates of the former South Cavalry Barracks in Aldershot stood in for the prison gates in the film
The prison scenes were filmed at the South Cavalry Barracks at Aldershot, and the security van robbery at Pirbright Arch in the village of Brookwood in Surrey.[6][7]
Release
The film opened at the Warner Cinema in London on 11 February 1960 before going on general release from the 14th.[1]
Reception
Two-Way Stretch was the fourth most popular film at the British box office in 1960.
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther gave it a positive review, writing, "the script by John Warren and Len Heath follows a straight line and is clever and full of good Cockney wit. Robert Day's direction is lively, in the vein of civilized farce, and the performances are delicious, right down the line," concluding, "Mr. Sellers is still on the rise."[8]
References
- ^ a b "Two-Way Stretch Group". Art & Hue. 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Two Way Stretch (1960)".
- ^ "Two Way Stretch – review – cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
- ^ III, Harris M. Lentz (17 May 2010). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2009: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. ISBN 9780786456451 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Two-Way Stretch (1961) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- ^ "Reel Streets". www.reelstreets.com.
- ^ "bdca.org.uk • View topic – 1960 film "Two Way Stretch"". www.bdca.org.uk.
- ^ "Movie Reviews". The New York Times. 11 November 2021.
