Kurt at 20:20, 20 February 2023

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	~~{{short description\|1967 film by Eric Sykes}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2016}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=May 2016}}~~
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	~~\|name = The Plank~~
	\|image = "The Plank" (1967).jpg		\|image = "The Plank" (1967).jpg
	\|caption =		\|caption =
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	[[Category:Films set in London]]		[[Category:Films set in London]]
	[[Category:1960s English-language films]]		[[Category:1960s English-language films]]


	~~{{1960s-UK-comedy-film-stub}}~~

Kurt: /* Cast */

2022-08-03T17:01:09Z

Cast

Kurt at 15:48, 3 August 2022

2022-08-03T15:48:46Z

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	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\|name = The Plank		\|name = The Plank
	\|image = "~~The_Plank~~"_(1967).jpg		\|image = "The Plank" (1967).jpg
	\|caption =		\|caption =
	\|director = [[Eric Sykes]]		\|director = [[Eric Sykes]]

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2022-08-03T15:47:01Z

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← Older revision	Revision as of 10:47, 3 August 2022
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en>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: /* External links */add Category:1960s English-language films

2022-07-25T07:16:45Z

External links: add Category:1960s English-language films

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{{short description|1967 film by Eric Sykes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox film
|name = The Plank
|image = "The_Plank"_(1967).jpg
|caption =
|director = [[Eric Sykes]]
|producer = [[Jon Penington]]
|writer = Eric Sykes
|starring = Eric Sykes<br>[[Tommy Cooper]]<br>[[Jimmy Edwards]]
|music = [[Brian Fahey (composer)|Brian Fahey]]
|cinematography = Arthur Wooster
|editing = John Pomeroy
|distributor = [[General Film Distributors|Rank Film Distributors]] (UK)
|released = {{Film date|1967}}
|runtime = 51 or 44 minutes
|country = United Kingdom
|language = English
|budget =
}}

'''''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.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062133/ "The Plank (1967)"]</ref>

==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#Morris Eight Series E|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,<ref name="Gifford2016">{{cite book|editor-last=Gifford|editor-first=Denis|date=2016|title=British Film Catalogue: Two Volume Set - The Fiction Film/The Non-Fiction Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FszeCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT972|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-317-74062-9|pages=972–}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Wilkin|first=Chris|title=Wooden film star goes under the hammer in Colchester|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/9393614.wooden-film-star-goes-under-the-hammer-in-colchester/|access-date=24 April 2021|newspaper=Daily Gazette|date=1 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Plank of wood goes under hammer ... for £1,050|url=https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/9402729.plank-of-wood-goes-under-hammer-for-1050/|access-date=24 April 2021|newspaper=Clacton Gazette|date=5 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Plank of wood that became a film star is sold for £1k|url=https://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/9407160.plank-of-wood-that-became-a-film-star-is-sold-for-1k/|access-date=24 April 2021|newspaper=Daily Gazette|date=8 December 2011}}</ref>

Dermot Kelly is often listed as "Concertina Man"<ref name="Gifford2016" /> or "Affluent Concertina Man",<ref name="CowieElley1977">{{cite book|author1=Peter Cowie|author2=Derek Elley|title=World Filmography: 1967|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jp7ayTLX1D8C&pg=PA202|year=1977|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press|isbn=978-0-498-01565-6|pages=202–}}</ref> instead of "Milkman". Johnny Speight is often listed as "Chauffeur",<ref name="Gifford2016" /> "Concertina Man's Chauffeur"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/465520/credits.html|title=Speight, Johnny (1920-1998)|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> or "Concertina Man's Father",<ref name="CowieElley1977" /> instead of "Pipe Smoker in Bus Queue".

==Cast==
{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Eric Sykes]] as the Smaller Workman
* [[Tommy Cooper]] as the Larger Workman
* [[Dermot Kelly (actor)|Dermot Kelly]] as the Milkman
* [[Hattie Jacques]] as the Woman with the Rose
* [[Roy Castle]] as the Delivery Man (Smelly Man)
* [[Jimmy Edwards]] as the Policeman
* [[Kenny Lynch]] as the Dustbin Lorry Driver
* [[Jim Dale]] as the House Painter
* Barney Gilbraith as the Paint-covered House Owner
* [[Rex Garner]] as the Tourist
* [[Libby Morris]] as the Tourist's wife
* [[Anna Carteret]] as the 'It's Paint' Woman
* [[Johnny Speight]] as the Pipe Smoker in Bus Queue
* Joan Young as the Woman in Bus Queue with Fur Coat
* Dennis Golding as the Boy with Cuffed Ear
* Hyma Beckley as Man in Bus Queue (uncredited)
* Howard Douglas as the Old Man
* Tricia De Dulin as the Young Lady Helped Across the Road
* Thomas Gallagher as the Man with Beer
* [[Bill Oddie]] as the Window Cleaner
* [[Jimmy Tarbuck]] as the Barman
* [[Ronnie Brody]] as the Nude Model Carrier
* Clovissa Newcombe as the Girl in the Van
* [[Graham Stark]] as the Amorous Van Driver
* [[Ian Wilson (actor)|Ian Wilson]] as the Van Driver's Mate
* [[John Junkin]] as the Lorry Driver with the Eye Patch
* [[Dave Freeman (British writer)|Dave Freeman]] as the UDC Cement Layer
* [[Stratford Johns]] as the Station Sergeant
* Oh... and '''''The Cat'''''
}}

==See also==
* [[The Plank (1979 film)|''The Plank'' (1979 film)]] — a television remake of this film
* Other Eric Sykes short films in a similar style to ''The Plank'':
:* ''[[Rhubarb (1969 film)|Rhubarb]]'' (1969)
:* ''[[Rhubarb Rhubarb]]'' (1980, a television remake of ''[[Rhubarb (1969 film)|Rhubarb]]'')
:* ''[[It's Your Move (1982 film)|It's Your Move]]'' (1982)
:* ''Mr. H Is Late'' (1988)
:* ''[[The Big Freeze (film)|The Big Freeze]]'' (1993)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060218170133/http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/guide/articles/p/plankthe_7776135.shtml Comedy Guide - ''The Plank''] at [[BBC Online]]
*{{British Comedy Guide|film|the_plank|The Plank}}
*{{IMDb title|0062133|The Plank}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Plank (1967 film), The}}
[[Category:1967 comedy films]]
[[Category:1967 films]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Eric Sykes]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:1960s English-language films]]

{{1960s-UK-comedy-film-stub}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 3 August 2022
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	* [[Eric Sykes]] as the Smaller Workman		* [[Eric Sykes]] as the Smaller Workman
	* [[Tommy Cooper]] as the Larger Workman		* [[Tommy Cooper]] as the Larger Workman
	* [[Dermot Kelly (actor)\|Dermot Kelly]] as the Milkman		* [[w:Dermot Kelly (actor)\|Dermot Kelly]] as the Milkman
	* [[Hattie Jacques]] as the Woman with the Rose		* [[Hattie Jacques]] as the Woman with the Rose
	* [[Roy Castle]] as the Delivery Man (Smelly Man)		* [[Roy Castle]] as the Delivery Man (Smelly Man)
	* [[Jimmy Edwards]] as the Policeman		* [[Jimmy Edwards]] as the Policeman
	* [[Kenny Lynch]] as the Dustbin Lorry Driver		* [[Kenny Lynch]] as the Dustbin Lorry Driver
	* [[Jim Dale]] as the House Painter		* [[w:Jim Dale\|Jim Dale]] as the House Painter
	* Barney Gilbraith as the Paint-covered House Owner		* Barney Gilbraith as the Paint-covered House Owner
	* [[Rex Garner]] as the Tourist		* [[w:Rex Garner\|Rex Garner]] as the Tourist
	* [[Libby Morris]] as the Tourist's wife		* [[w:Libby Morris\|Libby Morris]] as the Tourist's wife
	* [[Anna Carteret]] as the 'It's Paint' Woman		* [[w:Anna Carteret\|Anna Carteret]] as the 'It's Paint' Woman
	* [[Johnny Speight]] as the Pipe Smoker in Bus Queue		* [[Johnny Speight]] as the Pipe Smoker in Bus Queue
	* Joan Young as the Woman in Bus Queue with Fur Coat		* Joan Young as the Woman in Bus Queue with Fur Coat
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	* [[Bill Oddie]] as the Window Cleaner		* [[Bill Oddie]] as the Window Cleaner
	* [[Jimmy Tarbuck]] as the Barman		* [[Jimmy Tarbuck]] as the Barman
	* [[Ronnie Brody]] as the Nude Model Carrier		* [[w:Ronnie Brody\|Ronnie Brody]] as the Nude Model Carrier
	* Clovissa Newcombe as the Girl in the Van		* Clovissa Newcombe as the Girl in the Van
	* [[Graham Stark]] as the Amorous Van Driver		* [[Graham Stark]] as the Amorous Van Driver
	* [[Ian Wilson (actor)\|Ian Wilson]] as the Van Driver's Mate		* [[w:Ian Wilson (actor)\|Ian Wilson]] as the Van Driver's Mate
	* [[John Junkin]] as the Lorry Driver with the Eye Patch		* [[John Junkin]] as the Lorry Driver with the Eye Patch
	* [[Dave Freeman (British writer)\|Dave Freeman]] as the UDC Cement Layer		* [[w:Dave Freeman (British writer)\|Dave Freeman]] as the UDC Cement Layer
	* [[Stratford Johns]] as the Station Sergeant		* [[Stratford Johns]] as the Station Sergeant
	* Oh... and '''''The Cat'''''		* Oh... and '''''The Cat'''''

The Plank (1967 film) - Revision history

Kurt at 20:20, 20 February 2023

Kurt: /* Cast */

Kurt at 15:48, 3 August 2022

Kurt: 1 revision imported

en>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: /* External links */add Category:1960s English-language films