The Sandwich Man – 1966 | 95 mins | Comedy | Colour

Plot Synopsis

Snubbed when it was first released, this engaging, off-the-wall, semi-silent film features cameos from a whole host of British comedy stalwarts, including Diana Dors, Terry-Thomas, Bernard Cribbins, Norman Wisdom, Harry H Corbett and Michael Chaplin – son of Charlie. The format of quickly revolving comedy skits was used too great effect on many television series during the following years.

The film charts a day in the life of sandwich-board man and pigeon-fancier Horace Quilby (Michael Bentine). As the day begins he inspects his pigeons, and leaves instructions with his neighbour, Mrs Devere (Dora Bryan), as to where he can be contacted during the day. He then embarks on wandering the streets of London anxiously awaiting news of his prize pigeon Esmerelda, whom he has just entered in a big race. In the course of a walking day he encounters many of his eccentric acquaintances. The early stories involve Swinging London photographer Harold (Bernard Cribbins), Irish Father O’Malley (Norman Wisdom) who gets punched black-and-blue at All Angels Boys Club, and scoutmaster (Terry-Thomas) on bob-a-job week. A motorcycle policeman (Ian Hendry) has the misfortunate to meet, and avoid, many of the characters Horace comes across.

After leaving the London Hilton, Horace tries to reconcile the romance between model Sue (Suzy Kendall) and her car salesman boyfriend, and tries to obtain some free theatre tickets from Mac (Harry H. Corbett). At the Park, Horace encounters a mischievous park-keeper (Stanley Holloway) and observes some peculiar and amusing moments; before leaving to travel home in Sue’s boyfriend’s car – on the Thames!