Rent The Wrong Box (1966)

3.2 of 5 from 124 ratings
1h 41min
Rent The Wrong Box Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
Ralph Richardson and John Mills star as two elderly brothers who are the last surviving members of a Tontine - a bizarre lottery in which the last man still alive scoops a fortune. While the two old buffers steadfastly refuse to die, some of their relatives decide to sort things out once and for all. While ineffectual Cousin Michael (Michael Caine) and ever-so-slightly demented Cousin Julia (Nanette Newman) fumble their way into romance, venal Cousin Morris (Peter Cook) and lothario Cousin John (Dudley Moore) plot to get their sweaty hands on the fortune.
Unfortunately, when they accidentally mistake the corpse of the infamous Bournemouth Strangler for dear Uncle Joseph and ship him in a barrel back to London, they set off a farcical chain of misunderstandings with hilarious consequences. Further confusion is provided by Peter Sellers as the cat-obsessed Dr. Pratt and Tony Hancock as a detective as everyone tries to work out who's really alive and entitled to the money. With an all-star cast featuring some of Britain's best-loved comedy talents, 'The Wrong Box' is a truly black comedy farce in the best traditions of British cinema.
Actors:
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Directors:
Producers:
Bryan Forbes
Writers:
Robert Louis Stevenson, Lloyd Osbourne, Larry Gelbart, Burt Shevelove
Others:
Julie Harris, Ray Simm
Studio:
DD Home Entertainment
Genres:
Classics, Comedy
Collections:
A History of British Queens in Film, Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1, Cinema Paradiso's 2024 Centenary Club: Part 2, Cinema Paradiso's 2024 Centenary Club: Part 3, Cinema's Most Memorable Comedy Double Acts, Films & TV by topic, Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: John Mills, inema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 2, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 Titles About the Golden Age of Radio
Awards:

1967 BAFTA Best Costumes

BBFC:
Release Date:
17/05/2010
Run Time:
101 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Original theatrical trailer
BBFC:
Release Date:
26/11/2018
Run Time:
105 minutes
Languages:
English LPCM Mono
Subtitles:
English Hard of Hearing
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.75:1
Colour:
Colour
BLU-RAY Regions:
(0) All
Bonus:
  • The BEHP Interview with Bryan Forbes (1994, 102 mins): an archival audio recording, made as part of the British Entertainment History Project, featuring the celebrated filmmaker in conversation with Roy Fowler
  • Audio commentary with film historians Josephine Botting and Vic Pratt
  • Box of Delights (2018, 21 mins): award-winning actor Nanette Newman talks about The Wrong Box and her work with husband Bryan Forbes
  • Box Cutting (2018, 10 mins): a new interview with assistant editor Willy Kemplen
  • Chasing the Cast (2018, 11 mins): second assistant director Hugh Harlow recalls his experiences on set
  • Original theatrical trailer
  • Image gallery: promotional photography and publicity material
  • World premiere on Blu-ray

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Reviews (2) of The Wrong Box

A farce with top actors - The Wrong Box review by Maureen

Spoiler Alert
24/04/2020

This is a most entertaining film, pure farce but with most of the top actors of the day. If you want to watch a film you can thoroughly enjoy even if the whole thing is absurd this is worth a try. Just don't expect anything serious or believable.

George Roby.

1 out of 1 members found this review helpful.

A Classic Cast; a Dated 1960s Film. Excellent in Parts - The Wrong Box review by PV

Spoiler Alert
24/05/2023

I really enjoyed this if only for the character acting and scenes of Peter Sellers in particular - his portrayal of a northerner 'venal' doctor, surrounded by cats and losing his mind is one of his very best. Classic even and clearly adlibbed in part. Brilliant stuff! I laughed out loud twice at those scenes. Just beautiful. he steals it.

Ralph Richardson excels as the wiseacre old bore academic - I have known people like that! John Mills plays his brother.

I never really like Peter Cook and Dudley Moore in acting roles but if you do, here they are.

Tony Hancock appears briefly, looking a bit unwell, and this is about a year before his suicide.

Michael Caine here too, and John Le Mesurier and Irene Handl.

Worth watching JUST for the cast, if not the farcical swapped-box plot.

4 stars.

0 out of 0 members found this review helpful.

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