| The Night We Got the Bird | |
| Director: | Darcy Conyers |
| Producer: | Darcy Conyers Brian Rix |
| Starring: | Brian Rix Dora Bryan Ronald Shiner Liz Fraser |
| Cinematography: | S.D Onions |
| Editing: | Thelma Connell |
| Music: | Tommy Watt |
| Distributor: | British Lion |
| Runtime: | 82 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
The Night We Got the Bird is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Darcy Conyers and starring Brian Rix, Dora Bryan, Ronald Shiner and Irene Handl.[1] It is based on Basil Thomas's 1957 play The Lovebirds.[2]
It was the follow-up to The Night We Dropped a Clanger (1959), and includes the last film appearance by Ronald Shiner.
The title references a phrase in British English with its origin in the world of 19th century theatre, where it was customary to hiss like a goose to express disapproval.[3] [4]
When unscrupulous Brighton antiques dealer Cecil Gibson dies in a road accident, his widow Julie remarries, and her new husband Bertie was Cecil's innocent but naive business partner. One of their wedding presents, from an unknown source, is a mouthy South American parrot, which appears to be a reincarnated Cecil whose aim is to make married life difficult for Bertie. As Bertie and Julie go off on their honeymoon, they are chased by a gangster because of a fake antique bed that the late Cecil substituted for the real thing which he then sold for a profit.
The film was made at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England, and on location.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Really rather a lamentable example of British slapstick, studded with hoary gags about honeymoons, dominating mothers, discarded trousers and all manner of cloacal by-play. The brisk pace fails to make up for an appalling lack of discrimination, and only one good scene, with John Le Mesurier as a long-suffering Court Clerk and Kynaston Reeves as a deaf magistrate, manages to emerge above the general seaside-postcard level."[5]
TV Guide wrote, "sophomoric British comedy ...The script finds lots of excuses for people to lose their pants and make vulgar, inane sexual jokes that wouldn't amuse a 10-year-old."[6]
Allmovie wrote, "several hilarious slapstick scenes involving chases or sexual encounters, as well as the more reserved wit found in caricatures like an inept magistrate, are all hallmarks of a typically British sense of humor here (shared by many non-Brits)."[7]
Sky movies wrote, "a fast and furious farce ...With humour that's a notch below the contemporary 'Carry On' films. Never mind, there are some priceless cameo performances from the supporting cast, including Robertson Hare as a dithering doctor, John le Mesurier as a long-suffering court clerk, Kynaston Reeves, hilarious as a deaf magistrate, and Terry Scott as a constable."[8]