Movie spotlight
Not Tonite, Henry!
One of the early color near-nudie films and was re-shown often by, mostly, drive-in theatre owners in need of a quick cash fix. They would hang out the "Adults Only" sign, thereby ensuring that every high school and junior high boy (and more than a few dads) within an hour's drive would storm the gate, and turn on the pop corn machine and then hot-foot it to the night-deposit at the bank. "Not Tonight, Henry" (the actual title and not an alternate title as some seem to think) was a large step up in quality for director W. Merle Connell in that it was in color and also not just a static-camera filming of a burlesque show inside of one of L. A.'s smoky, grind house burlesques. The girls were still out of burlesque, as were Hank Henry and Little Jack Little: Hank Henry is more than a little frustrated at the "lack of attention" he is getting at home from his wife and starts dreaming up amorous escapades with sirens from the past...
Insights
Plot Summary
Henry, a bumbling butler, attempts to help his master, Lord Abercrombie, impress a wealthy industrialist by pretending to be a foreign dignitary. However, Henry's incompetence leads to a series of escalating comedic mishaps and misunderstandings. The situation is further complicated by the presence of an international spy who is after a valuable document hidden within the house. Henry must navigate the chaos and protect his master's reputation, all while trying not to ruin everything.
Critical Reception
Not Tonite, Henry! received mixed to negative reviews upon its release. Critics often pointed to its predictable plot and low-brow humor, though some acknowledged the charm of its lead actors. It's generally considered a minor British comedy of its era, with little lasting impact beyond a cult following for its star, Ronnie Barker.
What Reviewers Say
The film suffers from a weak and nonsensical plot.
Ronnie Barker and Sidney James provide some comic relief, but it's not enough to save the film.
The humor relies heavily on slapstick and tired gags.
Google audience: Audience reception for Not Tonite, Henry! is largely unavailable through standard aggregators. Those that have commented often recall it as a dated, low-budget comedy from the early 1960s.
Fun Fact
This film was one of Ronnie Barker's earliest film roles before he became famous for his television work on shows like 'The Two Ronnies' and 'Porridge'.
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