Adventures of a...Collection (Plumbers Mate / Private Eye / Taxi Driver) [DVD]

Made whilst the superior Robin Askwith Confessions series were already in full flow these 3 films are another wonderful reminder of the risqué days of saucy 1970's cinema.
Unlike the 4 Confessions movies which kept the same lead characters throughout there are 2 main leads here. In the first "Taxi Driver" the late Barry Evans stars as the likeable cheeky cabby Joe North, Evans later starred in TV's Mind your language along with one of his co-stars here Anna Bergman. The last 2 starred Christopher Neil as the more rakish Bob West a pretty ineffective private eye and then as the disastrous plumber Sid South. The plots entail our "heroes" getting involved with the criminal fraternity and trying to disentangle themselves meeting a series of distressed damsels along the way.
There's a host of 1970's comedy icons here including Ian Lavender, Stephen Lewis, Willy Rushton, Arthur Mullard, Henry McGee, Harry H. Corbett and Irene Handl. Also Judy Geeson, Liz Fraser, and Adrienne Posta especially in a great "Cabaret" style outfit and the usual line up of 70's regular starlets including Angela Scoular, Lindy Benson, Prudence Drage, and Suzy Mandel; even early performances from Robert Lindsay and Elaine Paige and Jon Pertwee in a role that would make Sarah-Jane Smith blush.
By themselves the films would just about make 4 stars, they are nostalgic treats but what makes it so much more is the attention that has gone into the design of this package itself. It includes mini posters of each of the films on the box which are also included as a postcard for each of the movies as well as an informative 16 page behind the scenes booklet [NOTE: booklet and postcard no longer provided with product]. Director Stanley Long also narrates a commentary for each of the movies, it's just a shame that, for whatever reasons, none of the stars who are still around were able to assist.
That minor grumble aside it's well done to Icon for this impressive effort.

TAXI DRIVER:

Okay, so this is no Carry On masterpiece, but it will certainly put a smile upon your face!

Barry Evans stars in this 'saucy' sex farce about a randy Taxi Driver, and the opening scene is suitably funny as we see Diana Dors playing the part of his mother marvellously! This is what made Dors so great - the contrast of parts she went on to play. It is hard to believe that just several years earlier, she was playing the 'blonde bomb shell' ('Tread Softly Stranger') and although she was still beautiful, was not afraid to don some theatre make up later on and play character roles.

After the opening scene mentioned, this movie is a bit slow, but bear with it as it does get going, and it gets more amusing as the minutes pass! The best scenes by far being the one in the bathtub, and also the scene with the two nuns. Adrienne Posta (also Singer of the title song) is fabulously funny, is lively and entertaining (a great comedienne) playing the unfortunate girlfriend of this randy unfaithful character. 'Blakey' from 'On The Buses' also makes an amusing appearance.

Also stars, Judy Geeson, Robert Lindsay, Brian Wilde and a very 'randy' snake!!

TRIVIA: The opening credits to this movie slags Taxi Drivers something rotten as not caring. This is ironic, since Taxi Drivers were very responsible and reliable back then, but are infrequently so now...

PRIVATE EYE:

This feature is above average for one the 'Adventures' series - and probably the best one of the lot. It stars some big names - one of which is the great Diana Dors who proves herself a wonderful Comedienne in this in a 'bit' part, and Adrienne Posta is absolutely fabulous as 'Lisa Moroni' (a very accurate impersonation of Liza Minnelli!)

This opens with one of the funniest scenes as 'Bob West' (Christopher Neil) wakes up to find that the husband of a woman he's slept with the night before has actually climbed into bed to the side of him, and placed his arm about him believing it to be his wife - at first Neil does not realise this and proceeds to fondle and kiss the man's arm! There's quite a bit of slapstick action in this too, and there's never really a dull moment! One or two surprise performances also - in particular, that of Julian Orchard who plays quite an intimidating Policeman on a motor cycle!

Also stars; Harry H. Corbett, Liz Fraser, Irene Handl, Ian Lavender, Jon Pertwee and Willie Rushton.

PLUMBER'S MATE:

A more entertaining movie from the hilarious 'Adventures' series.

Christopher Neil stars in this (as he did in the 'Private Eye' before it) but is very different. These movies always opened with an hilarious scene, and this is no exception - with a cat under the bed and a mouse in it, whilst he and his girl are 'bonking'! (no animals were harmed in the filming by the way)

In this movie - Diana Dors is notably absent, but this does have a rare appearance of the 'classy' Singer Elaine Paige in a non-singing role (and is about the only woman who doesn't get to take her clothes off!) Arthur Mullard and Jerold Wells are excellent and extremely convincing as the two 'hard' nuts you won't want to cross, and Chris Biggins is hilarious with an obsession for a blow-up doll that gets a puncture! Look out also for David Rayner ('George' from 'Not On Your Nellie) in a fabulously funny scene when he's prodded rather aggressively by the wrong end of a Plunger in his private quarters! (we'll say no more...) Stephen Lewis also stars as 'Crapper', but all awards must go to the wonderful Claire Davenport for being such a great sport in making us all laugh as 'Belinda'!

Happy giggling!

NOTE: FOR THREE FUN MOVIES, THIS BOX SET IS EXTREMELY GOOD VALUE AT SUCH A LOW PRICE!

In the genre of the british 70's sex comedy there are films which are funny and deliver the sex(in loose terms)which include the confessions of... films at the top of pile which is not to say that they rank with the best of say the carry on's etc..but if there is a top spot then they may aswell take it by defalt at least.The Adventures Of... trio are a fair mark or two below the confessions films in all areas,acting,script and mostly budget.Each film has a couple of standout scenes and as a whole it's well worth owning this 3 disc collection if you have similar films already but it's not the best place to start if your just getting curious about this exploitation genre,however this set does at least have extras!Audio commentaries are a decent bonus and a rarity...