The Magnificent Two ** (1967, Eric Morcambe, Ernie Wise, Margit Saad, Cecil Parker) – Classic Movie Review 6574

Director Cliff Owen’s 1966 South American caper comedy is the third of only three cinema movies from beloved British comic duo Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise.

Following The Intelligence Men (1965) and That Riviera Touch (1966), Morecambe and Wise’s last attempt (of the three) to become big-screen stars finds them in a strained comedy thriller yarn, again written by their then regular TV scriptwriters, Sid [Sidney] C Green and Dick [Richard] M Hills), along with Michael Pertwee.

Morecambe and Wise were indeed magnificent, but unfortunately never really so in the cinema. For their third and final theatrical movie, they play travelling salesmen sent to the South American country of Parazuellia to sell their wares.

On arrival in Campo Grande, Eric is mistaken for revolutionary leader Torres, whom he has accidentally killed on the train on the way there. So now salesman Eric must save his life by posing as the South American rebel leader and eventually dictator.

Owen’s largely unhappy comedy has some laughs but also some rather nasty action sequences. It is hesitant, uncertainly toned and ultimately only a very moderate showcase for the great Eric and Ernie.

Their regular writers Green and Hills try for a Bob Hope and Bing Crosby-style Road movie and come up with a bit of a dead end.

It is shot in Eastmancolor by Ernest Steward, produced by Hugh Stewart and scored by Ron Goodwin.

A bronze bust of Eric Morecambe sculpted by Victor Heyfron in 1963.

Also in the cast are Margit Saad as General Carla, Cecil Parker as the British ambassador Sir John, Isobel Black as Officer Juanita, Martin Benson as President Diaz, Virgilio Teixeira as Carillo, Tyler Butterworth as the President’s younger son Miguel, Sandor Elès as Armandez, Victor Maddern as the drunken soldier, Michael Godfrey as Manuelo, Andreas Malandrinos as Juan, Sue Sylvaine as Carmelita Diaz, Charles Laurence as a sharpshooter, Henry Beltran as José Diaz and Michael Gover as the doctor.

It also known as What Happened at Campo Grande?

It is shot at Black Park (Buckinghamshire), the Longmoor Military Railway (Hampshire) and Pinewood Studios (Buckinghamshire).

Eric and Ernie made one more TV film together, Night Train to Murder, made just before Eric’s death in 1984, and shown on Thames TV in 1985.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6574

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Ernie Wise in 1960.