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The Plank (1967)

The Plank is a popular 1967 British slapstick comedy short film made by Associated London Films. It follows the misadventures of two builders who require a floorboard. It was written and directed by Eric Sykes, and produced by Jon Penington. The story was based on an episode of Eric Sykes BBC comedy series Sykes and A... from 1964, called 'Sykes and A Plank'.

Although not technically a silent film it is unusual in having little spoken dialogue, instead the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects.

Plot
Two builders buy a floorboard for a house they are building. They return to the house with the plank on top of a Morris Eight, but the journey is fraught with unexpected difficulties.

The film is a series of "plank jokes" elaborating on the "man with a plank" slapstick routine seen in vaudeville and silent films, and adding new ones. For instance, at one point the plank is tied to the top of the car and projects backward into the open back of a large van. A man enters the back of the van and sits down. The van drives away, leaving him suspended in mid-air sitting on the end of the plank.

Cast
Eric Sykes
Tommy Cooper
Jimmy Edwards
Roy Castle
Jimmy Tarbuck
Anna Carteret
John Junkin
Bill Oddie
Stratford Johns
Graham Stark
Jim Dale
Hattie Jacques
Rex Garner
Libby Morris
Joan Young
Barney Gilbraith
Clovissa Newcombe
Ronnie Brody
Johnny Speight
Kenny Lynch
The plank itself was sold at auction on Monday 5 December 2011 for £1050.

Author:	Rumpole [ Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:43 am ]
Post subject:	Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89
Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89 4 July 2012 Last updated at 10:32 GMT Eric Sykes, one of Britain's best-loved comedy actors and writers, has died at the age of 89, his manager has said. He found fame in a series of TV sitcoms from the 1950s, including Sykes And A... alongside co-star Hattie Jacques. He also starred in films including Monte Carlo or Bust, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and The Others. Manager Norma Farnes said: "Eric Sykes, 89, star of TV, stage and films, died peacefully this morning after a short illness. His family were with him." Born in Oldham, Sykes started his career writing radio material for comedians including Frankie Howerd, Tony Hancock and The Goon Show. He stepped into the spotlight with his own TV shows including Dress Rehearsal in 1956, Sykes And A... in 1960 and a follow-up, simply titled Sykes, in 1972. In the latter two, he and Jacques developed a popular partnership as a bumbling brother and long-suffering sister living at 28 Sebastopol Terrace. Former BBC head of comedy Jon Plowman paid tribute to Sykes as "a warm man, a kind man, a warm family man". "We won't see his like again," he said. "He was a wonderful improviser. ....more at link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-18704263 "His genius was both as a scriptwriter but also someone who could do stuff off the cuff. He was classless and funny and warm".

Author:	Rumpole [ Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:49 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89
Very sad to hear the news. Eric Sykes may not be so well known in USA... but he was one of the major UK comedy stars and writers.. I remember him fondly from my childhood in the 50's as well as ongoing. One work of note was a short SILENT film called "The Plank" which featured not only Sykes, but many of the best know British Comedians of the time.

Author:	Rumpole [ Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:53 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89
From Wikipedia Quote: The Plank (1967) The Plank is a popular 1967 British slapstick comedy short film made by Associated London Films. It follows the misadventures of two builders who require a floorboard. It was written and directed by Eric Sykes, and produced by Jon Penington. The story was based on an episode of Eric Sykes BBC comedy series Sykes and A... from 1964, called 'Sykes and A Plank'. Although not technically a silent film it is unusual in having little spoken dialogue, instead the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects. Plot Two builders buy a floorboard for a house they are building. They return to the house with the plank on top of a Morris Eight, but the journey is fraught with unexpected difficulties. The film is a series of "plank jokes" elaborating on the "man with a plank" slapstick routine seen in vaudeville and silent films, and adding new ones. For instance, at one point the plank is tied to the top of the car and projects backward into the open back of a large van. A man enters the back of the van and sits down. The van drives away, leaving him suspended in mid-air sitting on the end of the plank. Cast Eric Sykes Tommy Cooper Jimmy Edwards Roy Castle Jimmy Tarbuck Anna Carteret John Junkin Bill Oddie Stratford Johns Graham Stark Jim Dale Hattie Jacques Rex Garner Libby Morris Joan Young Barney Gilbraith Clovissa Newcombe Ronnie Brody Johnny Speight Kenny Lynch The plank itself was sold at auction on Monday 5 December 2011 for £1050.

Author:	Rumpole [ Wed Jul 04, 2012 6:57 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Comedian Eric Sykes dies aged 89
The Plank - Eric Spykes & Tommy Cooper - 1of5.wmv (Follow links for parts 2 - 5)

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