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The Sandwich Man is a 1966 British comedy film directed by Robert Hartford-Davis and written by Hartford-Davis and Michael Bentine. The film also stars Bentine, with support from Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Norman Wisdom, Terry Thomas, Ian Hendry and numerous other British character actors.

The Sandwich Man
Film Poster
Directed by	Robert Hartford-Davis
Written by	Michael Bentine Robert Hartford-Davis
Produced by	Peter Newbrook
Starring	Michael Bentine Dora Bryan Harry H. Corbett
Cinematography	Peter Newbrook
Edited by	Peter Taylor
Music by	Mike Vickers
Production company	Titan International Pictures
Distributed by	Rank Film Distributors
Release date	July 1966
Running time	95 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£214,452[1]

Plot synopsis

Bentine takes the leading role, playing Horace Quilby, a mild-mannered widower living in the London Docklands. His job as a sandwich-board man requires him to wander around London immaculately wearing morning dress (top hat and tails) and carrying advertisements. He is also secretary of the Sandwichmen's Brotherhood. But his real interest in life is pigeon racing, especially 'Esmerelda', who is racing from Bordeaux to London, so Horace keeps calling at places on his route to see if there is any news.[2]

The action takes place on the streets of London with the atmosphere being quite colourful with red London Transport RT buses often in view together with all manner of vehicles (cars and vans) from saloons and hansom cab taxis to chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royces.[3]

During the course of one day, Quilby encounters a host of eccentric characters, who are played by some of Britain's best known comedy and character actors, and becomes involved in a series of capers:-

• There is an overloaded Mini Moke with a troubled scout leader behind the wheel but getting nowhere fast;
• Along comes a policeman riding a motorcycle who has had better days;
• One mildly amusing sequence follows another with plenty of stars - an ensemble cast - fleetingly doing their scene and sometimes just appearing in a background or cameo role;[4]

But the main story thread sees Quilby reunite Sue (Suzy Kendall), a young model, with her errant boyfriend Steven (David Buck).

Quilby's homing pigeon Esmerelda wins the race, and the whole of his neighbourhood join in the celebrations.

Cast

Production

The film was the second in a short lived series of co productions between the NFFC and Rank.[5] Diana Dors had recently moved back to London after several years in the USA.[6]

Reception

The film was poorly received at the time of its release, critically and commercially,[7] but has since achieved some attention especially for its backdrop of London in the Swinging Sixties.

References

This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2020)

Notes

• Petrie, Duncan James (2016). "Resisting Hollywood Dominance in Sixties British Cinema : The NFFC/Rank Joint Financing Initiative" (PDF). Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television.

External links

• The Sandwich Man at IMDb
• The Sandwich Man at BritMovie (archived)
• Reelstreets : https://www.reelstreets.com/films/sandwich-man-the/

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