THE FILM
FILM DIRECTOR: Ralph Thomas
SCREENWRITER: Hugh Leonard, Michael Palin (key writer)(uncredited), Terence Feely (additional material) FILM STARS: Hywel Bennett, Denholm Elliott, Elke Sommer, Britt Ekland, Cyd Hayman, Janet Key, Tracey Crisp, Antonia Ellis, Tracy Reed, Patrick Mower, Pauline Delaney, Adrienne Posta, Sue Lloyd, Jane Carr, George Best
COUNTRY: Great Britain
THIS BOOK
AUTHOR: Raymond Hitchcock
TYPE: Novel
PUBLISHER: Sphere
THIS EDITION PUBLISHED: 1971
COUNTRY: Great Britain
COVER: Paperback
THE ORIGINAL BOOK
ORIGINAL AUTHOR: As Above
YEAR FIRST PUBLISHED: 1969
ORIGINAL BOOK TITLE: The film title
NOTES
GENRE: Comedy / Satire
WORDS: The book is a mildly satirical light-hearted sexual farce. Author Hitchcock (father of one of my favourite English musicians, Robyn Hitchcock) was a novelist, screenwriter, and cartoonist, and makes the most of a situation about the first penis transplant. The film is an English sex comedy which they did so well in the 70s. It’s stupid and funny and titillating – more so when you are a teen. The reason I watched this film (at the time) was for that titillation and the music by my favourite band, The Kinks. Ralph Thomas who had his fair share of great films (but wont be considered “great”” did the “Doctor” series of films and is the brother of the almost great Gerard Thomas (who did all the “Carry On” films). A sequel in book and film followed, “Percy’s Progress” (1972 and 1974 respectively).
LINKS
THEME SONG
A good example of an underrated genre. The 1970s English sex comedy had a number of gems . Confessions of a Driving Instructor is worth checking out. Adventures of a Private Eye is a minor classic.
I won’t disagree with you, though I suspect we are in a minority.