OOH YOU ARE AWFUL

UK, 1972, 97 minutes, Colour.
Dick Emery, Derryn Nesbitt, Ronald Fraser, William Franklyn, Norman Bird, Liza Goddard.
Directed by Cliff Owen.

Ooh, You Are Awful But I Like You was the popular trademark saying of television comedian Dick Emery. Successful on television and popular around the English-speaking world, this was an opportunity for a film version of Emery’s particular brand of comedy – with more than a touch of innuendo – as well as his skill in disguises.

There is a rather complicated plot about criminals, conmen – with Dick Emery as a man who had conned an American tourist couple and finished up in jail while his partner, Ronald Fraser, hid the money in a Swiss bank. For the innuendo, the codes to get the bank numbers are tattooed on the behinds of the girls with whom Reggie had affairs. In the meantime, a vicious gang, led by Derryn Nesbitt, are on the trail of the money and with vengeance because one of his girlfriends had an affair with Reggie…

Needless to say, the plot works out as expected. This is an example of a particular kind of broad British comedy with the various personalities who made impressions on British television in the 1970s. Dick Emery takes his place amongst the most celebrated of these.

1. The quality and entertainment value of this British comedy, its particular style, its focus on the comedian, on the other characters? The gimmick of impersonation?

2. The film as a showcase for Dick Emery, the title as his signature? Emery's quality as a comedian, impersonations, these incorporated into a crime plot, confidence, reasonable reasons for his impersonations? The quality of his characterisations, dialogue, humour?

3. How conventionally British was the comedy: the humour, dialogue, situations, characters, con men, tone?

4. The importance of the introduction and the confidence tricks on the Italians? The build up and Charlie’ arrival at the art gallery, his way of producing a diversion with the Chinese and the wealthy lady, his skill in impersonations, the local references to the royal family, the satire on the marriage, on the Italians? How enjoyable a satire on international relationships? A humorous confidence trick?

5. The illustration of the Mafia consequences and the parody of the Godfather type situation? The humour of the Mafia men always on the lookout to save him - the plane, dressed as nuns? The irony of this?

6. How well delineated was the character of Freddy, his taking part in the confidence trick with the Italians, his womanising and his forever looking at women? His way of communicating the Zurich number? The humour of his death?

7. Charlie as portrayed by Dick Emery, as a con man in himself, his gift for getting money out of people, the various styles of his disguises and the incidental humour on the types satirised e.g. the old butler, the spinster? The humour of selling the dog to the American tourist? The way he ran himself in jail, the warder and the story about the treasure?

8. The humour in trying to track down the number tattooed on the four girls; meeting the girl and arranging for the photography, the wedding and the cutting out her dress, his visit to the country home, the satire of the people in the country home, his work as a butler and his serving at the meal, getting his colleague to get the number, the police academy and his participation in the training, the girls in the dormitories, heating the dormitory etc?

9. A British comedy - on the gangsters with Nick Sabbath and the various attempts to kill Charlie? The humour of their own death sequence in the train?

10. His landlady had her typical British humour, good-natured criminal activity, her husband in jail, admiration for Freddy, for Charlie?

11. The special humorous sequences, the ending with his persuading the Mafia that he should live, the selling of the Sistine Chapel and the introduction of the Pope?

12. The enjoyment value of this kind of comedy, its skill , universal appeal?