''Rattle of a Simple Man'' is a 1964 British

comedy-drama Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau ''dramedy'', is a genre of dramatic works that combines elements of comedy and drama. The modern, scripted-television examples tend to have more humorous bits than simple comic relief seen in a typical ...

film directed by Muriel Box and starring

Diane Cilento Diane Cilento (2 April 1932 – 6 October 2011) was an Australian actress. She is best known for her film roles in '' Tom Jones'' (1963), which earned her an Academy Award nomination, '' Hombre'' (1967) and ''The Wicker Man'' (1973). She also r ...

, Harry H. Corbett and Michael Medwin, based on the 1963 play by Charles Dyer. The screenplay is about a naive man who becomes involved with a

prostitute Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in Sex work, sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often defined as an activity requiring physical contact (e.g., sexual intercourse, n ...

Premise

Percy Winthram is a 39-year-old socially inept,

anxious Anxiety is an emotion which is characterized by an unpleasant state of inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events. Anxiety is different than fear in that the former is defined as the anticipation of a future threat wh ...

virgin Virginity is the state of a person who has never engaged in sexual intercourse. The term ''virgin'' originally only referred to sexually inexperienced women, but has evolved to encompass a range of definitions, as found in traditional, modern ...

who pretends to be younger and travels by coach to

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

from

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The ...

with a group of friends to watch the

FA Cup Final The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. It has regularly been one of the most attended domestic football events in the world, with an official atten ...

. The group have a night out in

Soho Soho is an area of the City of Westminster, part of the West End of London. Originally a fashionable district for the aristocracy, it has been one of the main entertainment districts in the capital since the 19th century. The area was deve ...

and a £50 bet leads Percy to spend the evening with prostitute Cyrenne.

Selected cast

as Cyrenne * Harry H. Corbett as Percy Winthram * Michael Medwin as Ginger *

Thora Hird Dame Thora Hird (28 May 1911 – 15 March 2003) was an English actress and comedian, presenter and writer. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 film and television roles, becoming a household name and a Briti ...

as Mrs. Winthram * Charles Dyer as Chalky * Hugh Futcher as Ozzie * Carole Gray as District Nurse *

Barbara Archer Barbara Janet Archer (born in London in 1933) is a British actress. She is perhaps best known for her appearance in the 1958 film ''Dracula'', starring Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Selected filmography * '' A Kid for Two Farthings'' (1955 ...

as Iris *

David Saire David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

as Mario *

Alexander Davion Alexander Davion, (March 31, 1929 - September 28, 2019) French-born British actor. He was perhaps best known in the UK for his starring role in ''Gideon's Way'' as Detective Chief Inspector David Keen. He was born in Paris, France. He died in Lon ...

as Ricardo *

John Ronane John Ronane (11 December 1933 – 15 May 2019) was a British actor. He appeared onstage in the West End, in movies in Hollywood and Europe, on television and radio. As a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, he appeared in the original produ ...

as Willie * Michael Robbins as George * George Roderick as Papa *

Marie Burke Marie Burke (born Marie Rosa Altfuldisch, later Holt, 18 October 189421 March 1988) was an English actress of stage, cinema and television. She appeared in over 40 films between 1917 and 1971, and appeared in TV series between 1953 and 1969. B ...

as Mama * Bryan Mosley as Mr. Stratton (uncredited) * Marianne Stone as Barmaid * Brian Wilde as Fred * Ingrid Anthofer as 1st Stripper * Karen Kaufman as 2nd Stripper * Terence Brook as Strip Club Barman *

Eric Mason Eric Mason (died 7 June 2010) was a British actor. Originally a stevedore working at Surrey Docks, he sustained a back injury in a road accident and end up taking an acting career. He made his theatrical debut in ''Gentle Jack'' by Robert Bolt, st ...

as Strip Club Doorman * Thelma Taylor as Strip Club waitress * David Burke as Jack *

Paul Ferris Paul Ferris may refer to: * Paul Ferris (composer) (1941–1995), English film composer * Paul Ferris (footballer) (born 1965), Northern Irish former footballer and now physiotherapist * Paul Ferris (Scottish writer) Paul John Ferris (born 10 ...

as Mike *

Frank Hawkins Frank Hawkins, Jr. (born July 3, 1959) is a former professional football player, a running back who played seven seasons in the NFL with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, from 1981 to 1987. He is also a former Las Vegas City Council member. Foo ...

as Crying Man * Roy Patrick as Sailor * Doug Robinson as Big Joe * Christine Taylor as Party Girl * Marjie Lawrence as Barmaid (uncredited)

Production

Sydney Box emerged from a temporary retirement from filmmaking to buy the rights to the play for £50,000. Box originally wanted Peter Sellers for the lead role but he was too expensive.

Reception

Box office

The film was not a success at the box office.

Critical

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' 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"; while

Sky Movies Sky Cinema is a British subscription film service owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema channels currently broadcast on the Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable platforms, and in addition Sky Cinema ...

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."

References

External links

* * * {{Muriel Box 1964 films 1964 comedy-drama films 1960s sex comedy films 1960s English-language films British association football films British black-and-white films British comedy-drama films British films based on plays British sex comedy films Films about dysfunctional families Films about prostitution in the United Kingdom Films about virginity Films directed by Muriel Box Films set in London Films shot at Associated British Studios 1960s British films