Orders Are Orders (1954)

Touches You

Lack of good storyline.

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is a remake of the 1934 film made by Gaumont British starring James Gleason and Charlotte Greenwood.Not exactly star but actors with substantial careers on the American stage and screen.This film has a very similar script and no American stars.However it has three iconic comedy actors,James,Hancock and Sellars.However they are all defeated by the script.Hancock seems to be enjoying himself I charge of the army band.James is wildly unconvincing as the American director,and Sellers has a small part ad a bar steward.There are a lot of familiar faces such as Raymond Huntley in supporting roles,however this is is definitely a film to miss.

Fancy a good old fashioned British comedy about army life? Don't bother with this. If 'Orders Are Orders' is remembered for any reason at all, its for bringing together Tony Hancock ( whose first film this was ), Sid James, Eric Sykes, and Peter Sellers. Unfortunately, it manages to squander their talents. The script is completely lacking in humour. Hancock tried to see this at his local cinema one afternoon. A request for a front row seat was met with: "You can have the first fifteen rows if you like!".Directed by David Paltenghi, it tells the less-than hilarious story of a British army base which is invaded by an American film company wishing to make a low budget science fiction epic. Sid James is 'Ed Waggermeyer' the producer, and is chiefly responsible for what few laughs there are ( his American accent is very good ). He later called the film "a bit of a stinker!". The main role though is taken by Brian Reece, a charmless actor who exhibits no comic talent whatever.Things To Look Out For - the robot was later reused in an 'Avengers' episode called 'The See Through Man'.One of the writers, Geoffrey Orme, later wrote 'The Underwater Menace' for Patrick Troughton's 'Dr.Who', a story often regarded as the very worst ever ( though it made far more sense than the recently transmitted 'A Good Man Goes To War'! ).I love old British comedies, but this is impossible to recommend. Try the Boulting Brothers' 'Private's Progress' ( 1956 ) instead.

Who is Brian Reece? He's the star of 1954's "Orders Are Orders." He died in 1962. In this film he is ably supported by the often overlooked, but always invaluable, Raymond Huntley. So much for them."Orders are Orders" is about an army base is overrun by motion picture people making a cheap sci-fi flick about an invasion from outer space.Three show-biz legends have parts in the movie. First, Peter Sellers, just finding success on BBC radio's "The Goon Show." Then, Tony Hancock, who was soon to embark on his own radio series, and would go on to great fame on BBC television. Finally, Sid James, anchor of many "Carry On" movies.Hancock is the most disappointing. He bumbles around trying to act funny as a military band leader. He does have a few good moments, as when he tries to turn the march his band has been playing into a waltz.Sellers, on the other hand, is too restrained. Arguably the finest slapstick artist in movies since the silent era, Sellers' modus operandi is often to let characters and jokes develop slowly. In a 78-minute movie chock full of characters it seems unlikely a beginning movie actor in a supporting role would be allowed such latitude. His low-key performance can probably be chalked up to inexperience. It's too bad, because Sellers (still in his early, chunky period) can go high-octane.Sid James, perhaps because of his role as a flamboyant movie-maker, gives the film the charge it needs. He bustles through trying to steal every scene he's in, and mostly succeeding. From the moment he appears, every time he goes off-screen the movie starts to die.All three of these stars-to-be have significant if not above-title roles in "Orders are Orders." Their long-time fans may be disappointed, but it's worth seeing these young performers feeling their way to stardom that was waiting just around the corner.In all this, I have talked little about the film itself. There's not much to talk about. If it were not for the fact that three of its performers went on to major stardom, two on film and one on British television, this movie would probably never see the light of day. Fans of bad sci-fi might enjoy it for insight into the making of those pictures.Donald Pleasence and Eric Sykes have bit parts. Don't blink.

A run of the mill army barracks in Bilchester is overrun by a film company planning to make a Z grade science fiction movie. All seems to being going well as the pretty lady actors have the barracks in a tizzy and get the soldiers to play a part. That is until the Divisional Commander turns up for one of his inspections.Tho far from being at the top of the cast list, this sub-standard remake of a 1933 film of the same name is of interest to see the names Peter Sellers, Sid James & Tony Hancock in the same movie. However, the truth is is that it's a poor movie that is directed badly by David Paltenghi and the source material really doesn't transfer well to the screen. Based on a play written by Ian Hay in 1932, the makers seems to think that by weaving chaotic scenes with chaotic shouty dialogue that that is going to make for a mirthful movie. It doesn't.Released to DVD in 2007 as part of a collection called Long Lost Comedy Classics, this is easily the weakest of the set. Other titles in the collection are Miss Robin Hood, John & Julie, Make Me An Offer, The Love Match and the quite brilliant Time Gentlemen Please!. Orders Are Orders smacks of being a "set filler" and exists purely because of the names attached to it (Brian Reece, Margot Grahame & Raymond Huntley also star). 3/10 for Huntley's efforts and James' bizarre American accent