You Must Be Joking!

1965
Approved
1h 40m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

A motley group of soldiers are set loose in swinging London in an initiative test to collect a selection of esoteric items.A motley group of soldiers are set loose in swinging London in an initiative test to collect a selection of esoteric items.A motley group of soldiers are set loose in swinging London in an initiative test to collect a selection of esoteric items.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

5.9/10

399

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Oscar-winning actor Helen Mirren lambasted director Michael Winner in a TV interview for allegedly treating her "like a piece of meat" during a casting session for this film in 1964. Recalling the encounter, she said that he ordered her to turn around and flaunt her body for him. "I was mortified and incredibly angry. I thought it was insulting and sexist, and I don't think any actress should be treated like that, like a piece of meat, at all. I was so angry. I still am." Winner has defended his actions, saying: "I did indeed ask her to stand up. I don't remember asking her to turn around but if I did, I wasn't being serious. I can see it now. She was wearing a peasant blouse and a skirt in the photographs, with enormous bosoms which were sagging a bit even though she was young."

Goofs
When the famous Lutine bell is stolen, the officers at HQ describe it as weighing about a hundred pounds, and difficult, but not impossible, for a man to move around. Yet in the scene at the finish line, there's a brief shot of Poppy Pennington (Tracy Reed), herself probably not much more than that weight, scooping it up effortlessly in the scramble.

Quotes
Sergeant Clegg: Dig? Me? I'm a married man!

Connections
References The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

Soundtracks
I'm With You
Music by Buddy Bregman
Lyrics by Hal Shaper

User reviews24

Review

Featured review

7/10

An undervalued pleasure

It's somewhat strange how this cheery and pleasing film has been almost totally forgotten today - perhaps in part despite its 'Swinging London' ethos that it was filmed in black & white?

Michael Winner's 1960s films were noted for their vivid and lively style, and it's a pity that when he moved to Hollywood in the early 1970s he seemed to lose that style and his films became defined by being dour, downbeat and often quite nasty.

Back to YMBJ, acting standouts include Lionel Jeffries who steals the film with his funny performance just as he did a few years previously with 'The Wrong Arm of the Law' and Terry-Thomas in a small but typically very amusing performance.

The film's finale is a bit messy and incoherent, but otherwise the film is full of good fun and laughs.