Great Britain

The very idea of a virile young man sharing a flat with two attractive young women was still quite shocking to a lot of people when the first Man About the House television series was shown in 1973, and you can't beat a potentially shocking situation for providing plenty of good clean innocently naughty fun. By the time the spin-off movie was made in 1974 the once supporting characters of Mr and Mrs Roper (Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce) had developed into strong personalities in their own right, with the sexuality frustrated landlady's doomed efforts to stir a spark of passion in her placidly self-satisfied hubby adding the touch of pathos that lies at the core of all the best humour. The efforts of Robin (Richard O'Sullivan) to get Chrissy (Paula Wilcox) into bed are, of course, equally doomed to failure; and his randy chum Larry (Doug Fisher) is wasting his time when he tries to have his wicked way with Jo (Sally Thomsett). But no man will blame them for trying, and every women will relish the wit and charm with which the girls manage to thwart their little schemes. Snug in their accustomed roles, the five stars carry the plot of the movie along with the ease that comes from knowing exactly how the characters will react to the situations and to each other. And it's plot the plot that provides plenty of valid excuses for introducing over a baker's dozen of well known faces. Robin gets a job as a kitchenhand working with chef Bill Maynard. Pompous property developer Arthur Lowe sends his smarmy sidekick Peter Cellier to con the Ropers and their nearest neighbours into selling their houses. Aimi McDonald, Michael Ward and Melvyn Hayes are among the conned; Patrick Newell is an MP with embarrassing secret; Johnnie Briggs and Bill Pertwee add some fruity comments as a milk man and a postman; Bill Grundy hosts a television chat show produced by Julian Orchard; and Michael Robbins is a doorman guarding the entrance to the studios where Jack Smethurst, Rudolph Walker and Spike Milligan are to be found playing themselves. That's fifteen known names; keep counting and you'll find more popping up before your eyes. MARJORIE BILBOW