SOME WILL, SOME WON'T

UK, 1969, 90 minutes, Colour.
Ronnie Corbett, Thora Hird, Michael Hordern, Leslie Phillips, Barbara Murray, James Robertson Justice, Dennis Price, Wilfrid Brambell, Eleanor Summerfleld, Arthur Lowe.
Directed by Duncan Wood.

Some Will, Some Won't is a colourful remake of Mario Zampi's Laughter In Paradise. This screenplay is adapted from the original screenplay. The film relies on its star performances (as did the original). The plot is followed fairly closely and gives opportunity for Michael Hordern and his bumbling idiosyncrasies to match those of Alastair Sim. Ronnie Corbett, exactly as in the television series, has the George Cole role. Thora Hird takes Fay Compton's role - but with much less ultimate compassion. Leslie Phillips is an expert philanderer - as was Guy Middleton in the original. The new version has an added bonus with James Robertson Justice as his crusty self as well as Arthur Lowe as the local policemen. The film is always amusing - but perhaps lacks the freshness of the original.

1. An entertaining comedy about:human nature. greed, practical jokes?

2. London '60s settings? Colour photography? The comic touches -especially with the opening sequence and Wilfrid Brambell and Big Ben? The use of the video for the will - as well as for the comeuppance?

3. The pun in the title? Compared with the original?

4. The practical joker, his death, his will, his understanding of his relatives, his conditions, the final joke and laughter?

5. The introduction to each of the characters, the quick,sketches for their failings? The news of their relative's death?, The reading of the will? Their reactions - and his anticipation of them on the video? Their going about their tasks? The effect on them? The final revelation and the laughter?

6. Michael Hordern's dithering style as the author of the lurid paperbacks (with Shakespeare's bust on the mantelpiece)? His adoring secretary and her testimony in the court? His military fiancee and her demands? Her crusty magistrate father? His having to commdt a crime - the visit to the police station, lending the officer the book, their discussions about crimes? His attempts at shoplifting and their failure? Theburglar's tools? The irony of his heaving a brick through the window? The court case and his prospective father-in-law, his defence, the revelation about his novels, his adding to the number of days? The effect of being in prison?, His being able to publish under his true name? what change had been effected?

7. Agnes and her tyranny at the hotel, her attempts to get a job and her snobbishness, chambermaid and the hard work, the guest and her giving her the same treatment, running her off her feet, the demands, her having to beg to keep her job? The humour of the finale and her turning on the woman? Her realisation of the change in herself?

8. Leslie Phillips' charm as the philanderer, the succession of girls, Dennis Price's Jeeves-like butler? The conditions. the night out with his cousin Deniston? The chance encounter with the attractive girl, her story, the meals and the attention? The irony of her Uncle Arthur? The marriage? * The humour of their not gaining any money? The change in him?

9. Ronnie Corbett and his timid style in the bank, being chewed out by the boss? His rehearsals for holding up the bank? The humour of his saving the day and becoming a hero? The change in him?

10. The lawyer and his enjoyment of the reading of the will and the conditions?

11. A humorous fable about human nature?