The Waterloo Bridge Handicap *** (1978, Leonard Rossiter, Lynda Bellingham, Gorden Kaye) – Classic Movie Review 5420

Writer/ producer/ director Ross Cramer’s 1978 British comedy short film about commuters on the 8.15 from Surbiton train racing up north to central London from Waterloo Station on the River Thames’s South Bank via Waterloo Bridge is funny, sharp and reasonably inventive.

It is narrated by Brough Scott as if a commuters’ race from their train is a horse race on TV, with the characters given horse type nicknames (apart from Rossiter). Its single idea sustains it quite nicely for its 20 minutes. The TV stars like Leonard Rossiter (as Charles Barker), Lynda Bellingham (as Likely Lady Miss Beamish) and Gorden Kaye (as Chubby Chap) are real assets.

John Quentin as Austin Reed, Ian Marter as Lincoln’s Inn, Tricia George, Patricia Hodge as gossiping girl, Andrew Dunsford, and Zoot Money as Red Hair are also in the cast.

Barker is the favourite to win, but he is on the wrong side of the car off the train and sets off in sixth place behind Red Hair, the City Gents, Likely Lady, Lincoln’s Inn and Austin Reed. Barker races ahead of his opponents, but there is a late rush by newcomer Chubby Chap.

It was produced by Fetter Productions and Paramount British Pictures and shown in British cinemas as a support feature in 1978. It was shown in cinemas again in 1981 before Raiders of the Lost Ark.  It was later shown on ITV by Thames Television.

Here is is in full:

Gorden Kaye died on 23 January 2017, aged 75. Most of his work was on TV or stage, but he was also in Jabberwocky (1977) as Sister Jessica, Porridge [Doing Time] (1979) as Dines, and Brazil (1985) as Ministry of Information Lobby Porter. RIP Gorden, we miss you.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5420

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com