Ray Galton Movies

Set in the Woodley district of London, the 19-episode sitcom Spooner's Patch poked cruel fun at police corruption in Great Britain. Incompetent Inspector Spooner, a man who never met a bribe he didn't like, was in charge of the tiny Woodley police station, living in a flat above the building so that he'd never be too far from the action. The fact that Spooner was a bit of a dim bulb was lost on the men in his charge, who weren't much brighter. During the first batch of episodes, which ran over ITV from July 9 to August 20, 1979, Ronald Fraser starred as Spooner. The remaining episodes, which aired from September 4 to October 16, 1980 and April 15 to August 24, 1982, featured Donald Churchill as the "good" Inspector, who during his final adventures, found his style being cramped by diligent traffic warden Mrs. Cantaford (Patricia Hayes). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lamont Sanford (Demond Wilson) once again hatches a get-rich-quick scheme. This time, he purchases two coffins from a bankrupt undertaker, intending to parlay these items into a profitable funeral-supply business. Alas, Lamont's father, Fred (Redd Foxx), is incredibly superstitious, and is so unnerved by the presence of the coffins that he ends up sleeping in the back of his truck. This leaves Lamont all alone in the bedroom -- and before long, his imagination begins to run riot. Redd Foxx's former vaudeville partner Slappy White makes the first of several appearances in the role of Melvin. Based on "The Wooden Overcoats," a 1964 episode of the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, "Coffins for Sale" first aired on March 10, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Despite the protests of his dad, Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx), Lamont (Demond Wilson) is determined to go through with his upcoming marriage. Alas, the bride gets cold feet at the last minute, leaving Lamont stranded at the altar. The bride's family later shows up at what was supposed to have been the wedding reception -- not to offer comfort and sympathy, but to reclaim their wedding presents. Believe it or not, Lamont does get to go on his honeymoon, but not with the "partner" he expected. Two former regulars on the classic TV series Amos 'N' Andy -- Alvin Childress and Lillian Randolph -- appear in supporting roles. Based on "And Afterwards At...," a 1965 episode of the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, "Here Comes the Bride, There Goes the Bride" originally aired on January 28, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The pilot episode of Sanford and Son was adapted from a script which aired several years earlier on the series' British prototype Steptoe and Son. After a quick introduction to the main characters -- irascible old junk dealer Fred Sanford (Redd Foxx) and his frustrated son and business partner Lamont (Demond Wilson) -- the plot proper begins, when Lamont purchases a porcelain figurine from a retired movie star. Though Lamont paid a mere 20 dollars, Fred is convinced that the figurine is valuable, and uses all sorts of undehanded methods to up its price during an auction. As usual, however, Fred's dreams of sudden wealth are doomed to smash into a million pieces (literally). The Steptoe and Son version of "Crossed Swords" originally aired in 1965; the Sanford and Son remake was telecast as the series' debut episode on January 14, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This episode is far from "PC" in its depiction of homosexual stereotypes, but remember that the world of TV comedy was a far different one in 1972. Fred (Redd Foxx) and Lamont (Demond Wilson) are at last afforded the opportunity to get rid of an old grand piano that is cluttering up their junkyard. However, this requires the Sanfords to personally deliver the piano to the home of a gay antiques dealer, who is quite smitten by young Lamont. Adapted from two separate episodes of the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, "The Piano Movers" originally aired April 14, 1972, as the final first-season installment of Sanford and Son. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

To cover up the fact that he has accidentally broken his son Lamont's precious porcelain connection, Fred (Redd Foxx) claims that their home was burglarized. Naturally, Lamont (Demond Wilson) calls the cops, whereupon Fred makes a tall tale taller by improvising an account of his heroics when confronted by the thieves. Eventually, Lamont learns the truth, and craftily arranges for Fred to be hoist on his own petard. Adapted from "Robbery With Violence," a 1970 episode of the British sitcom Steptoe and Son, "We Were Robbed" originally aired on February 18, 1972. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Steptoe and Son was the British TV precursor to the American sitcom Sanford and Son. Wilfred Brambell, the "clean old grandfather" from the Beatles' A Hard Day's Night, starred in the "Fred Sanford" role as an irascible cockney junk dealer. Harry H. Corbett was the British series' "Lamont", albeit a far more oafish character. This theatrical-feature adaptation of Steptoe and Son tends to stretch the premise rather than develop it. Still, the stars do their best with the mediocre material at hand. And, to be fair, the film was popular enough to inspire a sequel, 1973's Steptoe and Son Ride Again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The British farce Naughty Knights was originally shipped out as Up the Chastity Belt. Raucuous comedian Frankie Howerd, who laid waste to Roman history in the zany TV series Up Pompeii, is the star. The film's medieval adventures, involving a noble knight and his stupid serf, are punctuated by ample displays of female breasts, abdomens and thighs. As in Howerd's earlier projects, the supporting cast plays straight while the star makes snide, anachronistic comments directly at audience. This soft-core nonsense is perhaps best appreciated by fans of Frankie Howard; his suprisingly stellar supporting cast includes Bill Fraser, Anna Quayle and Eartha Kitt. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When the Soviet Prime Minister accepts a beautiful English bulldog as a gift from the British government, he has no idea that the dog has a highly sensitive bug in its stomach. This lively British espionage farce follows what happens after the dog becomes sick. It's a sticky situation, for if a Russian vet examines the creature, he will surely find the device. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

When a gang of London thieves, disguised as policemen, begin robbing other thieves....well, that's just not cricket. Benevolent burglar Peter Sellers, the man in charge of all "respectable" crooks in town (he even offers such incentives as a vacation plan and filmed training sessions!), sets about to ascertain how the renegade criminals have received inside information concerning upcoming robberies. He arranges a temporary truce with Scotland Yard so that both criminal and constable can work together in nabbing the miscreants. Alas, he must now contend with incompetent peacekeeper Lionel Jeffries, who poses an even greater threat than the "mole" who's been tipping off the phony cops (who is closer to Sellers than he'd ever suspect). Short, simple and sweet, the black-and-white Wrong Arm of the Law manages to pack more solid laughs than any three of Sellers' later overproduced Technicolor vehicles combined. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Zany British comedian Tony Hancock was briefly a major draw in the 1960s, with several popular TV series, sellout personal appearances, and a string of theatrical films to his credit. In The Rebel (released in the US as Call Me Genius), Hancock plays a middle-class businessman who decides to chuck it all and become a painter. He heads for Paris, there to starve in an attic until fame and fortune comes calling. Like many British comedies of the era, The Rebel has great fun at expense of modern art and bohemian artistes; Hancock takes full advantage of every humorous possibility, with suave George Sanders acting as his dignified foil. Alas, by the end of the 1960s, Tony Hancock was dead by his own hand, a victim of alcohol and acute depression. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide