One Way Pendulum **** (1965, Eric Sykes, George Cole, Julia Foster, Jonathan Miller, Peggy Mount) – Classic Movie Review 9329

Director Peter Yates’s delightful, quirky 1965 British comedy One Way Pendulum is a gently but satisfyingly amusing film of N F Simpson’s absurdist play, in which the eccentric Groomkirby family living in the suburbs has a weird lifestyle that includes inventing a singing weighing machine and building an in-house replica of the Old Bailey court so they can re-enact a murder and trial in their living room.

It is brought to life with a superlative cast, led by Eric Sykes as Mr Groomkirby, George Cole as as Defence Counsel, Julia Foster as Sylvia, Jonathan Miller as Kirby, and Peggy Mount as Mrs.Gantry.

Also in the cast are Alison Leggatt as Mrs Groomkirby, Mona Washbourne as Aunt Mildred, Douglas Wilmer as Judge, Kenneth Farrington as Stan, Glyn Houston as Detective Inspector Barnes, Graham Crowden as Prosecuting Counsel, Frederick Piper, Walter Horsbrugh, Vincent Harding, and Trevor Bannister.

One Way Pendulum could be a cult favourite if only more people knew about it.

Simpson, who had been reluctant to accept offers to film the play because he did not feel it was a movie, wrote the screenplay and was on set every day.

It was director Yates’s second film, following Summer Holiday (1963). His next film was Robbery. Yates then went on to Hollywood with Bullitt.

One Way Pendulum is directed by Peter Yates, runs 89 minutes, is made by Woodfall Film Productions, is released by United Artists (1964) (UK) and Lopert Pictures Corporation (1965) (US), is written by N F Simpson, based on the play by N F Simpson, is shot in black and white by Denys Coop, is produced by Michael Deeley and is scored by Richard Rodney Bennett.

It was shot at Twickenham Studios, London, England.

The original weighing machine comes from the British Automatic Company.

Simpson’s second full-length play One Way Pendulum, ‘A Farce in a New Dimension’, was first performed at the Royal Court Theatre, London on 22 December 1959, transferred to the Criterion Theatre, London, and ran until 11 June 1960. Alison Leggatt, Douglas Wilmer and Graham Crowden recreated their roles in the film.

The film had a rough ride with critics and public alike, and lost money.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9329

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