Man About the House – 1973

Director
Peter Frazer-Jones

Writers
Brian Cooke writer
Johnnie Mortimer writer

Producers
Peter Frazer-Jones producer
Philip Jones executive producer

Cast
Richard O’Sullivan – Robin Tripp
Paula Wilcox – Chrissy Plummer
Sally Thomsett – Jo
Yootha Joyce – Mildred Roper
Brian Murphy – George Roper
Doug Fisher – Larry Simmonds
Leslie Sands – Mr. Tripp (Robins Father) (1974-1976)

Review by Theo Robertson

Man About the House

Rather Low Brow Humour,
MAN ABOUT THE HOUSE was a slightly risqu popular sit com with a Jack the lad type sharing a flat with two girls one an intelligent red head and the other a blond bimbo . I was never too keen on the show and thought the two spin offs ROBIN’S NEST and GEORGE & MILDRED were better comedies . The problem I think I had was that it was unsophisticated and this feature film version reflects this . Check out this sample of dialogue:

” The girls have just put a new lock on the door ”
” Really ”
” Yeah . That’s to stop me getting out of their bedroom ”

Hmmm I guess feminists won’t be queuing to watch this . But to give it some credit it was never a show that claimed to be sophisticated and this film version stays true to its bawdy roots without going overboard . The very vague plot revolves a property developer wanting to buy out the tenants and we are treated to a fairly amusing sequence where the villain has laxatives put into his meal . We’re also treated to cameo appearances from very well known comedy faces at the time including Spike Milligan , but the show stopping moment involves the two protagonists from LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR a legendary TV show that is totally despised by the PC brigade for its alleged racism:
” What do you want to drink old friend ? ”
” I’ll have a white lady ”
” Pardon ? ”
A sometimes amusing and completely low brow comedy