A Pair of Briefs ** (1962, Michael Craig, Mary Peach, Brenda de Banzie, James Robertson Justice, Roland Culver, Liz Fraser, Ron Moody) – Classic Movie Review 8699

Director Ralph Thomas’s 1962 A Pair of Briefs comes with an innuendo-laden title that is just about the funniest thing in this draggy and dated British black and white comedy about young battling barristers (Michael Craig and Mary Peach) falling in love.

Rookie barrister Frances Pilbright (Peach) defends Gladys Worthing (Brenda de Banzie) against her husband Sidney Pudney (Ron Moody) in a bizarre marital case. The only trouble is that she is battling Tony Stevens (Craig), who works for the same law firm. Craig is helping Moody prosecute de Banzie for conjugal rights in the case defended by Peach. In court, judge Mr Justice Haddon (James Robertson Justice) threatens the battling barristers with disbarment.

A Pair of Briefs is a static, stagebound comedy, based on a theatrical farce of the day, but it provides some dated amusement, thanks mainly to the reliable vintage British character players, including perennial favourites Brenda de Banzie, James Robertson Justice, Roland Culver, Liz Fraser, and Ron Moody.

Craig and Peach try to be English versions of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn to little effect – while the satire on the British legal system is breezy but empty – but the vintage support cast bails the stars out.

The screenplay by Nicholas Phipps is based on the play How Say You? by Harold Brooke and Kay Bannerman.

Also in the cast are Jameson Clark, Charles Heslop, Bill Kerr, Nicholas Phipps, Joan Sims, John Standing, Amanda Barrie as Exotic Dancer Snake, Judy Carne as Exotic Dancer Maid, Barbara Ferris, Terry Scott, Graham Stark, Ronnie Stevens, Myrtle Reed, Cyril Chamberlain, Anthony Sagar and Michael Ward.

It was produced by The Rank Organisation and made at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK.

It is the theatrical movie debut of Sir John Standing (playing Hubert Shannon).

Judy Carne and Burt Reynolds.

It is also the film debut of Judy Carne, who died on 3 September 3 2015, aged 76. Her 1963 marriage to rising star Burt Reynolds was over by 1966. The divorce was acrimonious. She starred in the TV cult variety show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In (1967) and introduced the phrase ‘Sock it to me!’

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8699

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