Only When I Larf (1968)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

Len Deighton (novel)
John Salmon (script)
(more)

Release Date:

May 1968 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Adventure

Plot Keywords:

Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Richard Attenborough	...	Silas
David Hemmings	...	Bob
Alexandra Stewart	...	Liz
Nicholas Pennell	...	Spencer
Melissa Stribling	...	Diana
Terence Alexander	...	Gee Gee Gray
Edric Connor	...	Awana
Gaston Chikhani
Clifton Jones	...	General Sakut
Calvin Lockhart	...	Ali Lin
David Lodge
Brian Grellis	...	Spider
David Healy	...	Jones
Alan Gifford	...	Poster

Directed by
Basil Dearden

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Len Deighton		novel
John Salmon		script
Patrick Tilley		additional material

Produced by
Hugh Attwooll	....	associate producer
Len Deighton	....	producer
Brian Duffy	....	producer

Original Music by
Ron Grainer

Cinematography by
Anthony B. Richmond		(as Anthony Richmond)

Film Editing by
Fergus McDonell

Art Direction by
John Blezard

Costume Design by
Beatrice Dawson

Makeup Department
Barbara Ritchie	....	hairdresser
Freddie Williamson	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mac Davidson	....	production manager (as Mack Davidson)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tony Marcel	....	second assistant director
John Peverall	....	assistant director
Terry Marcel	....	second assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Tony Reading	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Dino Di Campo	....	sound editor (as Dino di Campo)
Brian Holland	....	dialogue editor
Sid Squires	....	sound recordist (as Sydney Squires)
Doug E. Turner	....	sound recordist (as Doug Turner)

Camera and Electrical Department
Roy Ford	....	camera operator
Frank Gell	....	camera operator
Focus Puller	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Brenda Dabbs	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Nicholas Napier-Bell	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Whistling Jack Smith	....	recordist: song "Only When I Larf"

Other crew
Susan Dyson	....	continuity (as Sue Dyson Davies)
Tom Pitt Miller	....	location manager (as Tim Pitt Miller)

Production Companies

• Beecord Production Ltd.
• Deigton/Duffy Production

Distributors

• Paramount British Pictures (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (1969) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• DERAM  song recording: "Only When I Larf"

Runtime:

USA:104 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:A | Sweden:11 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Baalbak Ruins, Beirut, Lebanon

Company:

Beecord Production Ltd.

Trivia:

Jerome Epstein worked as a producer during preproduction but left the project over disagreements.

Glossy Tongue-in-Cheek Comedy with Catchy Theme Tune

This is a glossy tongue-in-cheek tale of two conmen and their girlfriend accomplice constantly trying to keep one step a head of the game with mixed success.

A love-triangle develops as the young protege tries to take over from his old mentor and to steal his girlfriend to boot. Needless to say, their feuding only complicates things and leads to a good twist at the end.

The good-natured direction is upbeat and enthusiastic, the acting is accomplished right down to the supporting cast and the theme tune by Ron Grainer is catchy and interspersed by pleasant incidental scores. This movie is well worth viewing should you be lucky enough to find it on tv one afternoon.