The Plank
Directed byEric Sykes
Written byEric Sykes
Produced byJon Penington
StarringEric Sykes
Tommy Cooper
Jimmy Edwards
CinematographyArthur Wooster
Edited byJohn Pomeroy
Music byBrian Fahey
Distributed byRank Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • 1967 (1967)
Running time
51 or 44 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Plank is a 1967 British slapstick comedy film (51 minutes) made by Associated London Films. It follows the misadventures of two builders who require a floorboard. It was written and directed by Eric Sykes, and produced by Jon Penington. The story was based on an episode of Eric Sykes' BBC comedy series Sykes and a... from 1964, called "Sykes and a Plank".

Although not strictly a silent film, it is unusual in having little dialogue; instead, the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects.

The cast features many of the top comedians and comic actors of the time.[1]

Plot

After one of the characters uses the last floorboard for heating, the two hapless carpenters have to buy a replacement. They return to the house with the plank on top of a Morris Eight Series E, but the journey is fraught with unexpected difficulties.

The film is a series of "plank jokes" elaborating on the "man with a plank" slapstick routine seen in vaudeville and silent films, and adding new ones. For instance, at one point the plank is tied to the top of the car and projects backward into the open back of a large van. A man (played by Roy Castle) enters the back of the van and sits down. The van drives away, leaving him suspended in mid-air sitting on the end of the plank.

Production

Two variants exist, running for about 51 and 44 minutes respectively. The film was reissued in 1974,[2] with some scenes cut down or extended, and some put in a different order, with the music reapplied to suit; some voices were clarified.

Although a single plank was depicted throughout the film, two planks were actually used for filming: a thin plank for scenes where actors carry the plank, and a thicker plank for scenes where it is being transported on the Morris Eight and for scenes where a thicker stronger plank was required. In December 2011, one of these planks from the film was sold at auction for £1,050.[3][4][5]

Dermot Kelly is often listed as "Concertina Man"[2] or "Affluent Concertina Man",[6] instead of "Milkman". Johnny Speight is often listed as "Chauffeur",[2] "Concertina Man's Chauffeur"[7] or "Concertina Man's Father",[6] instead of "Pipe Smoker in Bus Queue".

Cast

See also

  • The Plank (1979 film) — a television remake of this film
  • Other Eric Sykes short films in a similar style to The Plank:

References

  1. ↑ "The Plank (1967)"
  2. 1 2 3 Gifford, Denis, ed. (2016). British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film. Routledge. pp. 972–. ISBN 978-1-317-74062-9.
  3. ↑ Wilkin, Chris (1 December 2011). "Wooden film star goes under the hammer in Colchester". Daily Gazette. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Plank of wood goes under hammer ... for £1,050". Clacton Gazette. 5 December 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  5. ↑ "Plank of wood that became a film star is sold for £1k". Daily Gazette. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  6. 1 2 Peter Cowie; Derek Elley (1977). World Filmography: 1967. Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press. pp. 202–. ISBN 978-0-498-01565-6.
  7. ↑ "Speight, Johnny (1920-1998)". Retrieved 28 April 2021.
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