''That Riviera Touch'' is a 1966 British

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Cliff Owen and starring Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. It is the second feature-length film made by the comedy duo Morecambe and Wise.

Plot

After Eric Simpson nearly gives The Queen a parking ticket in London, he and Ernest Clark decide to take a holiday in the south of France. However, when they arrive there, they become unwittingly involved in a jewel theft when the thief Le Pirate decides to use them to smuggle some precious jewels out of the country. He sends the two Britons to a sinister villa and sends the beautiful Claudette, a member of his criminal gang, to keep Eric and Ernie occupied while he carries out the various stages of his plan. Confusion ensues however, as the two battle for the affections of Claudette and Eric accidentally wins a large sum of money at a casino. Eventually Eric and Ernie start to get suspicious and begin to investigate...

Cast

* Eric Morecambe as Eric Simpson * Ernie Wise as Ernest Clark * Suzanne Lloyd as Claudette * Paul Stassino as Le Pirate *Armand Mestral as Inspector Duval *Gerald Lawson as Coco * George Eugeniou as Marcel * George Pastell as Ali * Alexandra Bastedo as girl at roulette table *Nicole Shelby as woman in casino * Peter Jeffrey as Mauron * Francis Matthews as hotel manager *

Michael Forrest Michael Forrest (July 1932 – 21 December 2004) was a Welsh television actor. He appeared in many British television series and films, which include ''Sir Francis Drake (TV series), Sir Francis Drake'', ''Z-Cars'', ''Danger Man'', ''The Saint ...

as Pierre * Paul Danquah as Hassim

Release

The film opened at the Leicester Square Theatre in the

West End of London The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, Central London, England, in the London Borough of Camden, London Boroughs of Camden and the City of Westminster. It is west of the City of London an ...

on 24 March 1966.

Reception

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "Diamond-sharp photography by Otto Heller, an appealing performance by Suzanne Lloyd, and an excellent little character sketch by George Eugeniou as a bizarre gang-member. Otherwise this is a dismal affair of antediluvian comic routines – strictly for hardened Morecambe and Wise fans." ''The

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...

Guide to Films'' gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Morecambe and Wise head for the south of France in what starts out looking like a customised remake of the old

Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American double act, comedy duo during the early Classical Hollywood cinema, Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957) ...

comedy '' Saps at Sea''. But Eric and Ernie's regular writers, Sid Green and Dick Hills, quickly run into the problem that blighted all three of their movies; the pair's relaxed, intimate style might have been perfect for the sketch format of their TV show, but it was totally wrong for sustaining narratives. Few laughs."

Leslie Halliwell Robert James Leslie Halliwell (23 February 1929 – 21 January 1989) was a British film critic, encyclopaedist and television rights buyer for ITV, the British commercial network, and Channel 4. He is best known for his reference guides, '' Fi ...

said: "Disappointing star comedy ending in a surfboard chase."

Box office

''That Riviera Touch'' was among the 15 most popular films at the British box office in 1966."Most popular star for third time." ''The Times'' ondon, England31 Dec. 1966: 5. Hugh Stewart says that due to rising costs and the fact the film did not do well in America, however, it barely got its costs back.

References

External links

* * 1966 films 1960s crime comedy films British crime comedy films Films scored by Ron Goodwin Films about vacationing Films directed by Cliff Owen Films set in London Films set on the French Riviera Films shot at Pinewood Studios Morecambe and Wise 1966 comedy films 1960s English-language films 1960s British films English-language crime comedy films {{1960s-UK-comedy-film-stub