Please Turn Over

I still think this is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen after 40 years of viewing experience. Any fan of the "Carry On" series will be delighted. I think it is equal to "The Ladykillers" (Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers, Herbert Lom) which also is a "10".

A 17 year-old girl writes a tell-all best-selling book. Unfortunately, the folks in the town recognize that she's talking about them and soon chaos erupts throughout this small English town.

I was very surprised to see such fantastically high ratings for this comedy. While the three other reviews now listed give it scores ranging from 9 to 10, I really hated the film and cannot understand the praise. After all, a score this high would place it among the elite British comedies of the era--but I'd never consider this to be in the same league as the charming Ealing Comedies being made around the time when "Please Turn Over" debuted. Ealing's films are subtle--and subtle is NEVER a term I'd use to describe "Please Turn Over". In this film, the acting is VERY broad as is the writing--like a cheap sit-com. Overacting and overdoing it is definitely what I noticed immediately after the film began. Not as broad as "Benny Hill" but certainly very broad.

Early carry on cast Good script and well executed Worth a watch

For some strange reason this film has evinced reviews which either claim that this film is the funniest thing since sliced bread or a dismal broad farce.It in my opinion is neither.It does have some funny moments but is not as consistently funny as some of the Carry Ons nor does it have great actors in every part.After all it has to be said that Ted Ray is no Sid James.Also it must be added that the idea that a 17year old schoolgirl in the early 60s could have the experience or knowledge to write a racy book is extremely unlikely.Furthermore the section where the actors play their alter egos from the book does go on a bit too long ,is a bit repetitive and not that funny.It is a reasonably funny if unmemorable film.

Please Turn Over is one of those films outside of the Carry On franchise, but one that still "bares" the early hallmarks of that series. Brought to the screen by Peter Rogers and Norman Hudis, it's adapted from the Basil Thomas play, "Book of the Month" and stars Ted Ray, Jean Kent, Julia Lockwood, Leslie Phillips and Lionel Jeffries. Plot finds Lockwood as a teenaged writer who upturns the lives of the local residents when she has a steamy novel published. The kicker being that the characters in her book appear to be based on them! Suddenly everyone is viewing everyone else in a different light.

A sort of comedic take on Peyton Place, it's a film that meets the expectations of those who are familiar with the cast and production team. Without being smutty or bawdy, it's more a gentle farce with some seamy undercurrents. The fun is mostly mined by the alternative world created by Lockwood when the townsfolk turn into adulterers and egotists. Rogers fills out the cast with performers he would come to rely on, where the likes of Joan Sims and Dilys Laye steal scenes, while Ray and Phillips turn in jolly good shows. Nice crisp B&W photography by Ted Scaife as well.

Not essential but a pleasant enough experience with a glass of Port on a Sunday afternoon. 6/10