MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE is another Hammer Films version of a popular TV series, this time about the misadventures of a trio of twentysomethings sharing an apartment in London. I took an instant dislike to this film thanks to the lank-haired layabout lead, Richard O'Sullivan, who seems to spend his whole time putting down women and coming out with un-PC humour.

The film as a whole doesn't transfer to the format as well as Hammer's ON THE BUSES trilogy and it feels instead rather like a padded-out episode of the TV show. The loose storyline involves some unscrupulous developers attempting to knock down the abode of our characters, so they decide to fight back. Some very broad comedy, involving endless games of strip poker and monopoly and laxatives, follows.

The humour is sometimes funny but seems to be rather mild and restrained for the most part, although it does have its moments. The romance stuff between the leads is pretty boring, although it is fun to see Sally Thomsett (THE RAILWAY CHILDREN) playing somebody her own age just four years after masquerading as a kid in that childhood classic. As ever, the endless cameos (Bill Pertwee, Bill Maynard, Arthur Lowe, Spike Milligan) are the highlight here.

MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE was a slightly risqué popular sit com with a Jack the lad type sharing a flat with two girls one an intelligent red head and the other a blond bimbo . I was never too keen on the show and thought the two spin offs ROBIN'S NEST and GEORGE & MILDRED were better comedies . The problem I think I had was that it was unsophisticated and this feature film version reflects this . Check out this sample of dialogue:

" The girls have just put a new lock on the door "

" Really "

" Yeah . That's to stop me getting out of their bedroom "

Hmmm I guess feminists won't be queuing to watch this . But to give it some credit it was never a show that claimed to be sophisticated and this film version stays true to its bawdy roots without going overboard . The very vague plot revolves a property developer wanting to buy out the tenants and we are treated to a fairly amusing sequence where the villain has laxatives put into his meal . We're also treated to cameo appearances from very well known comedy faces at the time including Spike Milligan , but the show stopping moment involves the two protagonists from LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR a legendary TV show that is totally despised by the PC brigade for its alleged racism:

" What do you want to drink old friend ? "

" I'll have a white lady "

" Pardon ? "

A sometimes amusing and completely low brow comedy

The entire main cast of the series are involved. The Film could be an extended episode of the series, which is always a plus in my opinion. The series has been shown regularly on Paramount 2 & UK Gold (or Granada Plus)The show always brings a smile to my face and uplifts my spirits. I think this is due to the fact that it takes me back to the simpler happy days of my youth; mind you those 70's fashion styles do make me cringe sometimes. There are some duplication of certain actors in the series. I only noticed them when I watched the repeats en bloc. Norman Eshley (actor) plays a unfaithful husband who dates Chrissy (Paula Wilcox)in one of the early episodes, then turns up as Robins (Richard O'Sullivan) brother in the last series and ends up marrying Chrissy at the end of the series. John Carlin plays Larrys (Doug Fisher) Landlord before Larry moves to the Ropers and then turns up in a later episode as a Barman in the local. I was sorry to hear of the passing of Doug Fisher. He added much to the series as Robins friend a 'Jack the Lad' character.