Up the Front (1972)

Up the Front (1972) (DVD) (*)

Out of Stock

Language Selections:
English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 )

Product Origin/Format:
Australia ( PAL/Region 0 )

Running Time:
88 min

Aspect Ratio:
Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)

Special Features:
Anamorphic Widescreen
Interactive Menu
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Trailer(s)

Movie filmed in 1972 and produced in:
United Kingdom ( Great Britain, Ireland )

Directed By:
Bob Kellett

Written By:
Bob Kellett
Eddie Braben
Sid Colin

Actors:
Frankie Howerd ..... Lurk
Bill Fraser ..... Groping
William Mervyn ..... Lord Twithampton
Linda Gray ..... Lady Twithampton
Jonathan Cecil ..... Nigel Phipps-Fortescue
Madeline Smith ..... Fanny
Nicholas Bennett ..... Mallett
Mike Grady ..... Newsboy
Dora Bryan ..... Cora Crumpington
Stanley Holloway ..... Vincento
Veronica Clifford ..... Velma
Peter Greenwell ..... Pianist/Accordianiste/Leader of the orchestra
Barrie Gosney ..... Stage Manager
Bob Hoskins ..... Recruiting Sergeant
Lance Percival ..... Von Gutz

Synopsis:

Zany British comedian Frankie Howerd, who'd previously laid waste to Ancient Rome in Up Pompeii, does same with World War II in Up the Front. Howerd plays a timorous servant who undergoes hypnosis. While thus entranced, he imagines himself a fearless warrior, and makes a beeline to the recruiting office. The laughs come fast and furious when Howerd finds himself the recipient of the enemy's war plans--tattooed on his tush. As was customary, Frankie Howerd took several opportunities in Up the Front to directly address the audience and crack wise about the situation at hand.

Lurk, the last of a long line of cowards, is not-boy at Twithampton House when war is declared. The servants, headed by Groping the sex mad butler - are marshaled to volunteer by heir apparent Nigel Phipps-Fortescue. Only Lurk rejects the call to arms but a twist of fate finds him hypnotised into believing he alone can save England and joins up hastily. While serving under Sergeant Major Groping in France, Lurk is tricked into no man's land where he stumbles across Nigel, eventually finding their way behind enemy lines and stealing the Hun's master war plan. Hotly pursued by Von Gutz, Nigel is left with no choice but the tattoo the war plans onto Lurk's unconscious buttocks - a terrible cheek! Making their way back to England, Lurk's rear is in hot demand as the treacherous Von Gutz, fiendishly disguised as a doctor, tries to get his hands on it. Up Pompeii was a huge success for the BBC thanks to Frankie Howerd's hilarious double-takes and clever asides to the viewing audience at home. The format was so successful it lead to numerous sequels and three feature films to rival the Carry On series. This final film in the series transports Howerd's character to WWI with a cast of favourites including Bill Fraser, Madeline Smith, Stanley Holloway, William Mervyn and the one and only Zsa Zsa Gabor as a fabulous German spy.

Frankie Howerd stars in this comedy as a lowly boot-boy who is a terrible coward. He only goes to war in 1914 after he has been hypnotised to 'save England'. With the German master plan tattooed on his backside (this is the only way he could get the plan back to the British), he goes to the British headquarters, with the Germans in hot pursuit, to try and 'hand over the plans'!!!

This product was added to our catalog on Monday 25 April, 2016.