No Kidding (1960)
A young couple, David and Catherine Robinson, has to turn their large country house into a money-making proposition. Their solution is to invite the kids of the rich and famous to spend a summer enjoying all the loving care and attention they miss at home. After the youngsters arrive, David quickly realizes what the offensive little punks need is some real discipline, and so the summer begins.
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Too much of everything
Memorable, crazy movie
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
On watching this lame comedy it occurred to me that many of the elements of the previous years' "Carry On Teacher" were recycled in this film.The kids in both films go out of control in the first half.They then come together for a common purpose.In Teacher to keep Ted Ray at the school and in this film to save the home from being closed down.Leslie Phillips is of course a common element to both films.However the only performances worthy of note in this film are those of Irene Handel and Joan Hickson.It goes to show that even given a good cast and reliable director and first class writer that the team were still capable of churning out unfunny comedies between Carry Ons.Peter Rogers always maintained that the title was the star of the Carry Ons.that was patently untrue.Take,James,Williams,Hawtrey,Jacques out of a film and you end up with a very dull film.
It is a real shame, but this is a poor film. The potential is there with a good, strong cast, but the story is weak, there are far too many predictable moments and occasions when there is a try at humour which fails miserably. I am surprised that it has been rated as a Comedy. What this film has got going for it, and the only reason I didn't score it 1 out of 10, are the performances from most of the actors, particularly Joan Hickson and Irene Handl (playing a straight role for a change). It is worth watching to see the usual British character actors (Cyril Chamberlain, Sydney Tafler etc) and the wonderful Leslie Phillips and gorgeous Geraldine McEwen who, of course, shares the film with another "Miss Marple"! However, I doubt I will ever sit through it again.
A married couple (Phillips and McEwan) inherit a large old house, and quick as a wink, decide to turn it into a holiday home for rich kids. As the different children, and assorted staff descend, so the couple have to cope with adolescent yearnings, drunken domestics, troublesome teens and a busy-body alderman determined to secure the building for her own...A strangely lack lustre effort from almost all concerned, with clunky juveniles, an intensely irritating McEwan, an unusually subdued Phillips and a shocking lack of pace. Only Irene Handl's delicious turn as the officious Miss Spicer, and Joan Hickson's gloriously bombed cook inject any interest. Most famous now as Agatha Christies's Miss Marple, it is indeed a crime of cinematic history that Hickson wasn't regularly nominated for best supporting actress gongs throughout her career. An unsung heroine of British moviedom if ever there was one, if you ask me!
Before they concentrated on the Carry On franchise, producer Peter Rogers, director Gerald Thomas, write Norman Hudis, composer Bruce Montgomery et al made a series of comedies such as "No Kidding". David (Leslie Phillips) and Catherine (Geraldine McEwan) Robinson inherit Chartham Place, a large country home, and convert it into a holiday home for rich children. The children come from a cross section of families but, in general, all suffer neglect from their bust parents. They include an arrogant American brother and sister, the son of a social climbing scrap merchant, two sons of a Middle East King, two daughters of African politicans, the daughter of a Duke, a boy with a seriously ill mother and a sexy teenager with a vivid imagination (Julia Lockwood). As with comedies of this genre there is minimal plot. Christine encourages the children's "freedom", obviously until freedom goes too far. A matron (June Jago) feuds with the drunken cook (Joan Hickson, enjoying herself immensely) who, in turn, is abetted by the caretaker (Noel Purcell). An officious alderwoman (Irene Handl) has an eye on the property for a community center. Given these acting professionals the acting is good across the board. Geraldine McEwan shows the greatest range and its a pity that she isn't better known in North America. Overall this comedy can be recommended, it may not have belly laughs but will bring many smiles.