Of the three films Morecambe and Wise made in the mid-1960's,THAT RIVIERA TOUCH was perhaps the best,though as the cliché goes,it isn't saying that much.Eric and Ernie's brand of humour was never particularly suited towards plot or narrative (the crosstalk/sketch format seemed to accommodate them far more),and the story here (about jewel thieves on the French Riviera) is wispy and fluffy to the point of irrelevance.
What saves the film from total mediocrity is the location filming on the French Riviera itself (pleasantly photographed by the veteran Otto Heller),the inclusion of a capable comedy director (Cliff Owen),and occasionally some decent comic material which is just about good enough to take the mind off the mundane plot.Eric and Ern manage to produce some very funny moments despite some considerable flaws surrounding them;the supporting actors (predominately mainland European types) are mostly forgettable and contribute very little that is of note,and the climactic surfboard chase is reasonably well-staged,though is made less effective by some obvious back projection. Despite this,Morecambe and Wise come across as two very likable innocents abroad,and although the prosaic storyline,script and related characters interfere too often,there's still enough amusing bits of business (particularly during and after Eric wins a fortune,purely by accident,at a roulette table) to ensure at least total indifference never sets in.
That said,there is still a feeling of disappointment with THAT RIVIERA TOUCH,and Morecambe and Wise would soon find their proper comedic mode with their glorious BBC TV shows of the 1970's,where they were not distracted by plots,scripts or supporting characters that overtly inhibited them;THAT RIVIERA TOUCH only suggests in moments how truly great they could be,and indeed they did become,via (for them) the less constrained medium of television.
RATING:6 out of 10.
What saves the film from total mediocrity is the location filming on the French Riviera itself (pleasantly photographed by the veteran Otto Heller),the inclusion of a capable comedy director (Cliff Owen),and occasionally some decent comic material which is just about good enough to take the mind off the mundane plot.Eric and Ern manage to produce some very funny moments despite some considerable flaws surrounding them;the supporting actors (predominately mainland European types) are mostly forgettable and contribute very little that is of note,and the climactic surfboard chase is reasonably well-staged,though is made less effective by some obvious back projection. Despite this,Morecambe and Wise come across as two very likable innocents abroad,and although the prosaic storyline,script and related characters interfere too often,there's still enough amusing bits of business (particularly during and after Eric wins a fortune,purely by accident,at a roulette table) to ensure at least total indifference never sets in.
That said,there is still a feeling of disappointment with THAT RIVIERA TOUCH,and Morecambe and Wise would soon find their proper comedic mode with their glorious BBC TV shows of the 1970's,where they were not distracted by plots,scripts or supporting characters that overtly inhibited them;THAT RIVIERA TOUCH only suggests in moments how truly great they could be,and indeed they did become,via (for them) the less constrained medium of television.
RATING:6 out of 10.