The Night We Dropped a Clanger

The Night We Dropped a Clanger is a 1959 black and white British comedy film directed by Darcy Conyers and starring Brian Rix, Cecil Parker, William Hartnell and Leslie Phillips.

The Night We Dropped a Clanger
UK theatrical release poster
Directed byDarcy Conyers
Written byJohn Chapman
Produced byDavid Henley
Sydney Box
StarringBrian RIx
Cecil Parker
William Hartnell
Leslie Phillips
CinematographyErnest Steward
Edited bySidney Stone
Music byEdwin Braden
Distributed byRank Organisation
Release date
  • 11 October 1959 (1959-10-11)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The title comes from the British expression "to drop a clanger", meaning to say something inappropriate or revealing. It links in the title to the secondary meaning of "clang", the noise of a metallic object hitting the floor. It was released as Make Mine a Double in the United States.

A British secret agent is sent on a secret operation in occupied France during the Second World War but a diversionary tactic turns into a farcical tale of mistaken identity.[1][2]

Andrew Sachs made his film debut in a minor role.

Plot

When mysterious, unpiloted, midget aircraft start landing in southern England during the Second World War, secret agent Wing Commander Blenkinsop, VC and bar, is chosen for a top-secret mission to occupied France to investigate. Meanwhile, as a diversionary tactic to deceive the Germans, his exact look-alike, Aircraftsman [sic] Atwood (both parts are played by Rix), is reluctantly recruited to go to North Africa. However, through a farcical mixup, Blenkinsop finds himself in Africa and Atwood ends up in France.

By far more luck than judgement, Atwood returns to England in one of the buzz bombs and, with everyone (including Blenkinsop's girlfriend Lulu) believing he is Blenkinsop, he becomes a national hero, while the real Blenkinsop desperately tries to regain his identity and his life. Atwood continues the impersonation, but when he meets Lulu's mother, and his future mother-in-law, he begins to have doubts. Accidentally meeting Blenkinsop, they swap back to their real identities.[3]

Cast

Critical reception

SKY Movies wrote, "a typically rickety British farce of the late Fifties, a time when the Carry On's were gaining their first foothold. This is a sort of Carry On Flying: Brian Rix has a field day in a dual role and there's even William Hartnell, giving his comic all as yet another barking NCO. Broad, unpolished, lowbrow fun."[4]

References

  1. "The Night We Dropped a Clanger (1959) – IMDb". IMDb. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  2. "BFI | Film & TV Database | The NIGHT WE DROPPED A CLANGER (1959)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  3. "Make Mine a Double (1959) – Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast". AllMovie. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  4. "The Night We Dropped a Clanger – Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 24 May 2002. Retrieved 5 March 2014.

The Night We Dropped a Clanger at IMDb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8JWUHNswIU Full movie on YouTube.


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