1964 British film by Muriel Box
Rattle of a Simple Man is a 1964 British comedy-drama film directed by Muriel Box and starring Diane Cilento, Harry H. Corbett and Michael Medwin, based on the 1963 play by Charles Dyer.[2] A naive man who becomes involved with a prostitute.
Plot
Percy Winthram is a 39-year-old socially inept, anxious virgin who pretends to be younger and travels by coach to London from Manchester with a group of friends to watch the FA Cup Final. The group have a night out in Soho and a £50 bet leads Percy to spend the evening with prostitute Cyrenne.
Production
Sydney Box emerged from a temporary retirement from filmmaking to buy the rights to the play for £50,000.[3] Box originally wanted Peter Sellers for the lead role but he was too expensive.[1]
Reception
Box office
The film was not a success at the box office.[1]
Critical
Variety commented that "most of the charm and tenderness that occasionally illuminated Charles Dyer’s successful play has been lost in this coarsened, fatuous film. Only a lively, vivid performance by Diane Cilento in a contrived role holds much interest, though a sound cast does spartan work in juggling the sparse material."[4]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Such merit as Charles Dyer's stage original possessed sprang from the fact that it was almost entirely a two-hander, a carefully modulated duologue between Percy and Cyrenne in which the humour almost counterbalanced the sentimentality. Here, everything has been conventionally opened out and coarsened. Harry Corbett grossly overplays the coy gaucherie; the Italian family (including sinister, black-shirted brother, lecherous stepfather and grieving mama) is pure melodrama; and the whole atmosphere of London sin is fetchingly ludicrous. Miraculously, though, by her astringent playing Diane Cilento almost achieves the impossible in creating a character out of nothing."[5]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Archetypal farcical situation with sentiment added to string it out to twice its proper length. Production values modest but adequate."[6]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Harry H Corbett strays into Norman Wisdom territory in this disappointing comedy from the husband-and-wife team of Sydney and Muriel Box. In adapting his play for the big screen, Charles Dyer so overdoes the pathos that what few laughs there are seem rather cruel and out of place. As the innocent following his football team to Wembley, Corbett is unconvincingly wide-eyed, although his scenes with prostitute Diane Cilento have a certain sweetness about them."[7]
Sky Movies called it "a rather touching and at times richly amusing extended playlet about an 'innocent' football fan from the north, and the night he spends talking to a London prostitute in her flat. Not very plausible, perhaps, but winningly done. As Cyrenne, the streetwalker, Diane Cilento is persuasive and just right. And Harry H Corbett was able to break away completely from his Steptoe image. Michael Medwin is also very good as Corbett's big-talking friend."[8]
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