Marty Feldman made his movie debut in Richard Lester's surreal, post apocalyptic comedy 'The Bed Sitting Room' ( 1969 ). With two seasons of the B.B.C.'s 'Its Marty' behind him, the time was right for him to flex his cinematic muscles. Based on a story by Milton Shulman and Herbert Kretzmer, 'Every Home Should Have One' was Marty's only British film, casting him as 'Teddy Brown', an advertising executive hired to provide a new campaign to promote 'McLaughlin's Frozen Porridge'. His first attempt features an animated, singing Scotsman and is soundly rejected. In desperation, he decides to 'think dirty' and use sex to sell the cereal. A competition to find the perfect 'Goldilocks' is held...
The mid-to-late '60's saw a sea change in British film comedy, as it moved away from family entertainment and became more risqué. Television provided inspiration, with many films being either based on or inspired by popular shows. Produced by Ned Sherrin and Terry Glinwood, 'Every Home Should Have One' was made in 1970 but is still very much a '60's period piece. The script by Barry Took, Denis Norden and Feldman himself lampoons not only the glossy but shallow world of advertising, but also moralising politicians, clean-up television campaigners, and the permissive society itself. Richard Williams Studios provides some superb animations; particularly funny are Teddy's outlandish, 'Billy Liar'-style dream sequences, including a fight between him and the 'Reverend Geoffrey Mellish' ( Dinsdale Landen ) whom Teddy thinks is trying to destroy his marriage to 'Liz' ( Judy Cornwell ). At one point, we even see the men as 'Superman' and 'Batman'! One gag was recycled from the series - dressed as a bishop, Marty is asked by a doorman if he is a bishop. "Who do you think I am then with this?", he says, holding up his staff, "Bloody Bo-Peep?".
Feldman proved here he had the talent to carry a film, and received strong support from a first-rate cast. Penelope Keith has a small role as 'Lotte', a Teutronic au pair. Alan Bennett puts in an uncredited cameo near the end as a befuddled barrister. And who can forget the luscious Julie Ege as Swedish 'Inga'?
Funniest moment - Teddy and Liz having a row while driving around London in a toothpaste tube-shaped car, unaware the speakers are on and that the public can hear every word!
Shulman and Kretzmer penned a novelisation to tie-in with the U.K. release. It did not receive an American premiere until 1978, when it was retitled 'Think Dirty!' A B.B.C.-4 documentary on Feldman in the Noughties implied that it was 'barely remembered'. Well, I'm, pleased to say that I remember it. At the time of writing, it still has not had a D.V.D. release.
The mid-to-late '60's saw a sea change in British film comedy, as it moved away from family entertainment and became more risqué. Television provided inspiration, with many films being either based on or inspired by popular shows. Produced by Ned Sherrin and Terry Glinwood, 'Every Home Should Have One' was made in 1970 but is still very much a '60's period piece. The script by Barry Took, Denis Norden and Feldman himself lampoons not only the glossy but shallow world of advertising, but also moralising politicians, clean-up television campaigners, and the permissive society itself. Richard Williams Studios provides some superb animations; particularly funny are Teddy's outlandish, 'Billy Liar'-style dream sequences, including a fight between him and the 'Reverend Geoffrey Mellish' ( Dinsdale Landen ) whom Teddy thinks is trying to destroy his marriage to 'Liz' ( Judy Cornwell ). At one point, we even see the men as 'Superman' and 'Batman'! One gag was recycled from the series - dressed as a bishop, Marty is asked by a doorman if he is a bishop. "Who do you think I am then with this?", he says, holding up his staff, "Bloody Bo-Peep?".
Feldman proved here he had the talent to carry a film, and received strong support from a first-rate cast. Penelope Keith has a small role as 'Lotte', a Teutronic au pair. Alan Bennett puts in an uncredited cameo near the end as a befuddled barrister. And who can forget the luscious Julie Ege as Swedish 'Inga'?
Funniest moment - Teddy and Liz having a row while driving around London in a toothpaste tube-shaped car, unaware the speakers are on and that the public can hear every word!
Shulman and Kretzmer penned a novelisation to tie-in with the U.K. release. It did not receive an American premiere until 1978, when it was retitled 'Think Dirty!' A B.B.C.-4 documentary on Feldman in the Noughties implied that it was 'barely remembered'. Well, I'm, pleased to say that I remember it. At the time of writing, it still has not had a D.V.D. release.