Only Two Can Play (1962)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Sidney Gilliat

Writers:

Bryan Forbes (screenplay)
Kingsley Amis (novel)

Release Date:

20 March 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Plot:

John Lewis is bored by his librarian's job and henpecked at home. Then Liz, wife of a local counciller...

Plot Keywords:

Welsh Valleys | Librarian | Driving Cap | Caviar | Hit In The Head

Awards:

Nominated for 4 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win

Cast

Peter Sellers	...	John Lewis
Mai Zetterling	...	Liz
Virginia Maskell	...	Jean
Kenneth Griffith	...	Jenkins (as Kenneth Griffiths)
Raymond Huntley	...	Vernon
David Davies	...	Benyon
Maudie Edwards	...	Mrs. Davies
Meredith Edwards	...	Clergyman
John Le Mesurier	...	Salter
Frederick Piper	...	Mr. Davies
Graham Stark	...	Hyman
Eynon Evans	...	Town Hall Clerk
John Arnatt	...	Bill
Sheila Manahan	...	Mrs. Jenkins
Richard Attenborough	...	Probert

Runtime:

106 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:PG (video rating) | UK:X (original rating) | Iceland:L | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Mayhill, Swansea, Wales, UK

Company:

Vale Film Productions

Trivia:

Presumably due to the depiction in the film, Swansea Library would not give permission for filming. The film uses the Glynn Vivian art gallery, directly over the road, for exteriors instead.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Pretty Girl in Library: Good morning. Have you "Conditioned Reflexes"?
John Lewis: Uh...
Pretty Girl in Library: It's by Pavlov.
John Lewis: Yes... It's out at the moment but if you'd like to leave your name, I could reserve it for you.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Unknown Peter Sellers (2000) (TV)

A nicely understated gem from Peter Sellers and a good supporting cast

Peter Sellers was always at his best in this type of local comedy. His randy Welsh librarian, frustrated with his dead-end job, has a part-time job as a reporter on the local newspaper, doing reviews of the local repertory theatre. We see his dreary home life; his long-suffering wife - a lovely performance from Virginia Maskell; his interchanges with his hypochondriac neighbour - Kenneth Griffiths. Enter the glamorous Mai Zetterling, wife of the local big-wig (Raymond Huntley)and Seller's life is catapulted into confusions. A chance of promotion - in exchange for sexual favours with Mai - catapults him into a sequence of very funny situations. One, a confrontation with an avant-garde poet/playwright - a beautiful cameo role by Richard Attenborough - is hilarious and the whole film progresses at a very satisfying pace, never descending in to farce. It would be nice to have it available in DVD format. It is a much better example of some of Seller's work, such as the farcical Pink Panther froth.