The Plank

The Plank is a popular 1967 British slapstick comedy short film. It follows the misadventures of two builders who require a floorboard. It was written and directed by Eric Sykes, and produced by Jon Penington. The story was based on a comedy sketch called "Sykes and a Plank", which was written by Eric Sykes for his comedy television series Sykes.

Although not technically a silent film it is unusual in having little spoken dialogue, instead the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects.

Plot

Two builders buy a floorboard for a house they are building. They return to the house with the plank on top of a Morris Minor, but the journey is fraught with unexpected difficulties.

The film is a series of "plank jokes" elaborating on the "man with a plank" slapstick routine seen in vaudeville and silent films, and adding new ones. For instance, at one point the plank is tied to the top of the car and projects backward into the open back of a large van. A man enters the back of the van and sits down. The van drives away, leaving him suspended in mid-air sitting on the end of the plank.

Cast

• Eric Sykes
• Tommy Cooper
• Jimmy Edwards
• Roy Castle
• Jimmy Tarbuck
• Anna Carteret
• John Junkin
• Bill Oddie
• Stratford Johns
• Graham Stark
• Jim Dale
• Hattie Jacques
• Rex Garner
• Libby Morris
• Joan Young
• Barney Gilbraith
• Clovissa Newcombe
• Ronnie Brody
• Johnny Speight
• Kenny Lynch

See also

• The Plank (1979 film) — a remake of this film

• Other Eric Sykes short silent films in similar style to The Plank:

• Rhubarb (1969)
• Rhubarb Rhubarb (1980, a remake of Rhubarb)
• It's Your Move (1982)
• Mr. H Is Late (1988)
• The Big Freeze (1993).

External links

• Comedy Guide - The Plank at bbc.co.uk
• The Plank at the Internet Movie Database

This article related to a British film of the 1960s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e