Great Britain

In 1962, one critic reported of Only Two Can Play that 'it was the funniest script since the heyday of Ealing'; and another wrote, 'the best comedy I have seen, the best performance ever by Peter Sellers and the best possible kind of portrayal of provincial life'. Based on Kingsley Amis's novel That Uncertain Feeling, the film was adapted for the screen by Bryan Forbes. Peter Sellers, in another of his ingenious characterizations, stars as John Lewis, the unfortunate Welsh librarian, frustrated with his hum-drum existence, who is tempted by the glamorous Mrs Gruffydd Williams (Mai Zetterling). Mr Lewis's domestic life is one long problem; aggravating children, an amiable but dowdy wife, and shabby rooms with ugly painted wallpaper and primitive plumbing, all dominated by a dragon of a landlady. His life at the library is equally tedious until the wife of a wealthy local businessman steps in; not only does she fancy him, but she also offers to help him get the promotion he seeks. But Mr Lewis is not one of life's successes. Instead of watching an amateur theatre production, he embarks on an initial sortie with Miss Zetterling which ends in pure farce when a herd of cows peer in at the car window, putting an abrupt end to his grand romantic seduction. And disaster follows disaster. A review is submitted to the local newspaper but unbeknown to Lewis, the theatre burnt down before the performance! The comedy ranges from light humour to sophisticated slapstick, with a wealth of talent in supporting roles - Kenneth Griffith is the hen-pecked friend and colleague after the same job, Virginia Maskell is the unassuming wife and Richard Attenborough appears as a flamboyant Welsh poet. The film was produced and directed by the team of Launder and Gilliat, who also responsible for other successful British comedies such as The Happiest Days of Your Life and the very popular St Trinian's films. PATRICIA PERILLI