NOT NOW, COMRADE [1997 / 2020] [Blu-ray] [UK Release]
British Film Comedy of the Saucy 1970’s!
An uproarious British farce featuring a classic line-up of comedy veterans, including Leslie Phillips, Carol Hawkins, Roy Kinnear, June Whitfield, Ian Lavender, Windsor Davies and Don Estelle! ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE ‘is packed to the brim with mistaken identities, assumed names, extreme confusion, double-takes and triple double entendre! It is presented here as a brand-new High Definition remaster from original film elements in its original theatrical 1.75:1 aspect ratio.
Rudi Petrovyan [Lewis Fiander], the highly-strung star of a Russian ballet company, defects to the West. Or, at least, he tries to. Unable to reach safety and pursued by the KGB, he takes refuge with a passing stripper named Barbara Wilcox [Carol Hawkins]. From that point onwards his plans go somewhat downhill!!
FILM FACT: Ray Cooney's 1964 play “Chase Me, Comrade” was based on the 1961 defection of Rudolf Nureyev. First appearing in 1964 at the Theatre Royal, Windsor where Ray Cooney himself played Gerry Buss. The play became a Whitehall farce running for 765 performances between 1964 and 1966. It was televised by the BBC's “Laughter from the Whitehall” in August 1964 and again in December 1967. Ray Cooney published a 1966 novelisation of the play. In 1981 Dutch television transmitted a version of the play called “Een Kus van een Rus.” Coincidentally Dame Stella Rimington became Director General of MI5 from 1992 to 1996.
Cast: Lewis Fiander, Richard Marner, Michael Sharvell-Martin, Carol Hawkins, Leslie Phillips, Ian Lavender, Roy Kinnear, Michele Dotrice, Ray Cooney, Windsor Davies, June Whitfield, Don Estelle and Bruce Wyndham (Radio Announcer)
Directors: Harold Snoad and Ray Cooney
Producer: Martin C. Schute
Screenplay: Ray Cooney (screenplay) and (original play) (uncredited)
Composer: Harry Robertson
Costume and Wardrobe Department: Rita Wakely
Cinematography: Jack Hildyard, B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p
Aspect Ratio: 1.75:1 + 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 89 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Nat Cohen / EMI Film Distributors Ltd. / STUDIOCANAL / Network
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: The film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ [1997] was based on Ray Cooney’s 1964 play “Chase Me, Comrade,” which was inspired by Rudolf Nureyev’s defection from the USSR, it’s woefully dated. The ‘gags’ are telegraphed in advance, the situations obvious and the performances over the top. Ray Cooney was the king of farce, whose plays, which often featured some of the biggest names of their day. The play ran for more than two years at London’s Whitehall Theatre.
Ray Cooney was an unbeatable farceur on the stage, as far as the period from the nineteen-sixties to the eighties went, with thousands lining up to see works like “Run For Your Wife” in the London’s Whitehall Theatre and thoroughly enjoying them. Only Brian Rix came close to taking his crown in this era, and they also joined forces on occasion, but both performers wanted something more, they wanted more than theatrical glory, they wanted to be movie stars as well. Thus as a record of their efforts, down the years various film versions of their farces have been produced, and the effect was, shall we say, something of a let-down in comparison to the box office of the stage shows, with critics and audiences alike taking a dim view of the film incarnations.
What works in the favour for the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ as it features plenty of familiar faces of the brilliant British comedy’s most familiar faces are on display here, including Leslie Phillips, Ian Lavender, Michele Dotrice, June Whitfield, Roy Kinnear and Ray Cooney himself; and Don Estelle and Windsor Davies, who were at the height of their fame in BBC TV Comedy Series “It Ain’t Half Hot Mum,” also pop up in minor roles. All deliver plenty of laughs and some genuinely funny lines. That is one thing which this film isn't short on as the witty lines certainly run fast with some good innuendos thrown in to the mix as well.
It all begins at the Royal Albert Hall, where the ballet star Rudi Petrovyan defects with help from his stripper girlfriend Barbara Wilcox [Carol Hawkins] and no prizes for guessing how she distracts the crowds outside.
Rudi Petrovyan is supposed to hide in the boot of Barbara Wilcox’s car, but mistakenly gets into the car of Commander Rimmington, setting in motion a chaotic series of event in which, for no particularly good reason, characters pretend to be other people. Despite the nature of their cover stories and or disguises, the people they’re trying to fool fall for their actions hook, line and sinker.
Carrying most of the film is the younger members of the cast, namely Carol Hawkins, Ian Lavender and Michele Dotrice. Carol Hawkins, familiar to Carry On fans for her appearances in ‘Carry On Abroad’ [1972], ‘Carry On Behind’ [1975] and ‘Carry On Henry’ [1971] and worked many times with Ray Cooney over the years and probably has the biggest role in the film. I like Carol Hawkins and she does well with her part in the film. Apparently this was the role she took on after turning down ‘Carry On England’ due to lots of nudity involved.
Leslie Phillips is the headlining star as Commander Rimmington, although he regularly dips in and out of the action. Michele Dotrice plays his daughter Nancy and Ian Lavender as her boyfriend. Also along for the ride is the wonderful actor Roy Kinnear who does his best with the role of Hoskins, the Commander Rimmington's gardener. The Australian actor Lewis Fiander plays the Russian ballet dancer. Ray Cooney also makes an appearance as a rather sober man, Mr. Laver, although he doesn't stay sober for long.
The film also includes cameos from Windsor Davies as the local policeman and his co-star Don Estelle as Hargreaves. Although June Whitfield is given star billing and only pops up very briefly at the end of the film, playing Leslie Phillips' wife. ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ is definitely not one the finest British comedy film ever made but full marks to the cast involved for making the most out of it! Check it out if it's your thing but I am very sorry to say that it would not stand up to any repeat viewings.
NOT NOW, COMRADE MUSIC TRACK LIST
NOT NOW (Lyrics by Sammy Cahn) (Music by Walter Ridley) [Sung by Don Estelle]
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Blu-ray Image Quality – Nat Cohen, EMI Film Distributors Ltd., STUDIOCANAL and Network has combined to present us the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ with a glorious scanned 4K restoration 1080p image. As the standard film area for the era for the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ was filmed open-matt full screen a 1.37:1 aspect ratio which you get to view more picture area top and bottom and when shown in the cinema, the image was then cropped to 1.75:1 aspect ratio widescreen picture and is still very watchable and preferred viewing the film in this aspect ratio. A recent Standard Definition full screen transfer, showing the full as-filmed picture area, has been up scaled to High Definition and included with this Blu-ray release alongside a brand-new High Definition remastered 1.75:1 aspect ratio widescreen image presentation. ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ has been newly transferred in High Definition from a 35mm interpositive in its original 1.75:1 aspect ratio. Although additional image restoration work was carried out, the picture still displays some minor faults including dirt, scratches, density fluctuations and film movement, amongst other issues. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – Nat Cohen, EMI Film Distributors Ltd., STUDIOCANAL and Network has combined to bring us the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ just one standard 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio. The audio is nicely rounded and also gives us a good dynamic range and is also very clear, well-modulated sound with no distortion or age-related surface noise, pops, or crackles. The dialogue of the cast is really good and you hear every word and where gun fire and other noises are clear and precise. The composed film score by Harry Robertson really enhances the audio experience of the music related to the totally British farce film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE.’
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Two Original Theatrical Trailers: In the period between the 1940’s, 1950’s and 1960’s of going to a British cinema, you would get what is called a “double feature” and was a motion picture industry phenomenon in which theatres would exhibit two films for the price of one, or sometimes they would show just one feature film and various short subject reels would be shown. So just before the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ starts, we get to view two Original Theatrical Trailers that would have been shown before the main film presentation, and they inform us:
SUNDAY FOR 7 DAYS will be showing:
‘Love Thy Neighbour’ [1973] [1080p] [1.78:1]
AND
‘Every Home Should have One’ [1970] [480i] [1.37:1]
Combined running time for both trailers was 5:12.
Theatrical Trailer [1976] [1080i] [1.78:1] [2:48] This is the Original Theatrical Trailer for the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE.’
Special Feature: Image Gallery [1976] [108p] [1.78:1] [0:34] Here we get to view 12 images relating to the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE.’
Finally, the film ‘NOT NOW, COMRADE’ gave you sets, budget and production are certainly low priority but the script is classic British humour from the 1970's and to me is easily as funny as the best of the Carry On films and some parts still make me laugh out loud despite having viewed the film many times to cheer myself up on a rainy day. The best of which has to be the wonderful Ray Kinnear's encounter with the stripper/love interest in the bushes outside the house. As for the “self-referential Marxist themed comment in the film, I can only say lighten up! This is just a silly piece of British farce comedy, not a Chekov play. In a world where CGI is beginning to replace any semblance of a script, its refreshing to see something so simple and intended purely for entertainment. You will either love it or hate it! – but you certainly can't forget it! Lesley Phillips certainly fulfils his role as the Eccentric British funny-man. The film is not made out to be a classic but I feel that if you are after the humour and not flashy sets and Hollywood A-list actors, then its worth a watch! The film is certainly from an era gone by, but writing on behalf of the Eighties something generation and it is surprisingly hilarious! But most of all, how can you not like a film that has Carol Hawkins getting her kit off in the first 5 minutes?! A great little snapshot of an England that no longer exists more's the pity. Lots of cheeky British 1970's humour which you'll either love or will be appalled by. A good cast too who give it their all. So often these saucy films fell flat, but this one doesn't, it's actually quite funny. It would have been interesting to compare it with the Ray Cooney's 1964 stage play “Chase Me, Comrade.”
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
