“LIKABLE ROGUES”

By Raymond Benson

Before Peter Sellers became well-known outside of Britain, the actor had made several motion pictures (The Ladykillers, The Mouse that Roared, etc.) in his home country. Two-Way Stretch, from 1960, in which he stars, represents the type of British comedy in which Sellers often appeared that was prevalent of the time. It’s almost an “Ealing Studios Comedy,” without being made by Ealing Studios. The Ealing films of the 1950s are a literal thing but in many ways the moniker also became a style of British comedy of the period.

Two-Way Stretch was directed by Robert Day, who was responsible for a terrific Alastair Sim vehicle, The Green Man (1956), and other British pictures of various genres leading up to perhaps his most well-known feature, She (1965). Stretch was written by John Warren and Len Heath and made by British Lion Films with a relatively low budget in glorious black and white.

The story concerns three convicts in a British prison—which is presented to be wonderfully lax in restrictions with prisoners enjoying all kinds of privileges. It’s easy to become mates with most of the guards and even the warden. Dodger (Sellers), The Dip (Bernard Cribbins), and Jelly (David Lodge) are likable rogues, cell mates, and friends with various contacts on the outside. Dodger’s lady, Ethel (Liz Fraser), is a hot number who often distracts the guards during visits so that other visitors can pass contraband to the prisoners. When Soapy (the wonderful Wilfred Hyde-White), a former partner in crime whose actions caused the three men’s incarceration, shows up dressed as a vicar, Dodger is suspicious. But Soapy convinces Dodger that there is a jewel heist scheme in the works that is foolproof—the only requirement is that Dodger, The Dip, and Jelly must escape from prison for a few hours, perform the heist, and sneak back in to the prison. In fact, the caper’s success depends on the boys returning to the slammer for reasons that would be spoilers here. Throwing a monkey wrench into the plan is the one guard who is a thorn in the side of the convicts, Officer “Sour” Crout (Lionel Jeffries), who plays everything by the book.

This enjoyable piece of whimsy is a fun ride for not-quite ninety minutes. Some of the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny, and the caper itself is clever. The acting, especially, exhibits notable turns from Jeffries and Hyde-White. Oddly, Sellers is quite subdued here. He is often the more serious leader of the prisoners, keeping things in order, and staying on top of the shenanigans so that they don’t go wrong. He does display his considerable screen presence, but the laughs in Two-Way Stretch generally come from elsewhere.

Kino Lorber presents a nicely restored feature that looks quite good. An audio commentary by authors and comedy historians Gemma Ross and Robert Ross add interesting background and texture to the proceedings. The theatrical trailer (and other Kino trailers) is the only supplement.

Two-Way Stretch is for fans of Ealing-style British comedies, Peter Sellers, and such marvelous character actors as Wilfrid Hyde-White and Lionel Jeffries.

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