Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!

Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! is a 1974 British politically themed comedy film based on a popular "Whitehall farce" written by Michael Pertwee, who also wrote the screenplay.[1]

Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!
Film poster
Directed byBob Kellett
Written byMichael Pertwee
Produced byAndrew Mitchell
StarringBrian Rix
Leslie Phillips
Joan Sims
Joanna Lumley
Katy Manning
CinematographyJack Atcheler
Edited byAl Gell
Music byPeter Greenwell
Production
company
Comocroft Limited
Distributed byThe Rank Organisation (UK)
Release date
14 March 1974
Running time
97 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

In the film, a government minister and his best friend take action in parliament against permissive behaviour in the United Kingdom. They are opposed by a group of hippies, who try to discredit them. Meanwhile, the minister is trying to maintain sexual relations with two different women, while keeping his sexual life hidden from the public.

Plot summary

Sir William Mainwaring-Brown, a British Government Minister, puts forward a parliamentary Bill to battle 'filth' (permissive behaviour) in the UK. However, that does not stop him having an affair with Wendy (the wife of a high-up reporter)—as well as planning a one-night-stand with his secretary Miss Parkyn, having discovered that her boyfriend has gone away. Opponents of the Bill – mainly some hippies, led by Johnny – decide to kidnap the Minister's best friend and co-sponsor of the Bill, Barry Ovis, just as he is on the way to the church to marry his fiancée, Jean.

The intention is to discredit Barry Ovis by making it appear that he was involved in an orgy, thus removing any credibility that the Law and Order Bill might have had. Following a tip-off by Edith, one of the conspirators, the police raid the hippies' flat. Thankfully for Barry, he escapes before the police discover him and dashes back to Sir William's flat, followed by Edith.

Meanwhile, the Minister is also trying to use the flat to carry on his seduction of Miss Parkyn, only for Wendy to also appear by surprise. The Minister, Barry and Jean try to keep the truth from Inspector Ruff (Who is searching for the missing Ovis), Wilfred Potts (an elderly anti-sleaze MP, who is staying temporarily in the adjoining flat) and Birdie (the Minister's wife). Not only that, but they have to try to deal with the hippies who do their utmost to discredit Mainwaring-Brown and Ovis. Naturally this causes no end of trouble.

Cast

Reception

Halliwell's Film Guide gave the film a negative review, saying it was a "stupefying from-the-stalls rendering of a successful stage farce; in this form it simply doesn't work".[2] Radio Times was similarly scathing, stating the film "reduces the precise timing of the double entendres, the bedroom entrances and exits and the dropped-trouser misunderstandings to the level of clumsy contrivance, which not even the slickest of players can redeem".[3]

Television

The film was spun off into a sitcom titled Men of Affairs for ITV. Leslie Phillips was unavailable to reprise his role as William Mainwaring-Brown; the part went to Warren Mitchell, who had found lasting fame as Alf Garnett.[4]

See also

References
  1. "Don't Just Lie There, Say Something! (1973)". Archived from the original on 7 August 2017.
  2. Halliwell's Film Guide, 13th edition – ISBN 0-00-638868-X.
  3. Parkinson, David. "Don't Just Lie There, Say Something!". Radio Times. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  4. "Men of Affairs (ITV 1973-1974, Warren Mitchell, Brian Rix)". Memorable TV. 29 January 2017.
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