The Plank

The Plank is a popular 30-minute, 1979 British slapstick comedy, which was a remake of an earlier 1967 version of the film which was written and directed by Eric Sykes. The 1967 version of "The Plank" was, in turn, based on a comedy sketch, called "Sykes and a Plank", which Eric Sykes wrote for his comedy television series, Sykes. The 1979 version was produced for television by Thames Television and broadcast on the ITV network.

Although not technically a silent film it is unusual in having no spoken dialogue, instead the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects. The Plank was the first in a series of similar 'no dialogue' comedy films written by Sykes.

Plot

When two builders find that a floorboard is missing, they buy a replacement floorboard and return with it through the streets, causing unexpected chaos.

Award

The 1979 film version won at the 1980 Festival Rose d'Or, held in Montreux, Switzerland.

Cast

• Eric Sykes
• Arthur Lowe
• Jimmy Edwards
• Lionel Blair
• Henry Cooper
• Harry H. Corbett
• Bernard Cribbins
• Robert Dorning
• Diana Dors
• Charlie Drake
• Liza Goddard
• Deryck Guyler
• Charles Hawtrey
• Frankie Howerd
• James Hunt
• Wilfrid Hyde-White
• Joanna Lumley
• Kenny Lynch
• Brian Murphy
• Kate O'Mara
• Ann Sidney
• Reg Varney
• Frank Windsor

See also

• The Plank (1967 film) — an earlier version of this film — on which this film was based.
• 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) and The Big Freeze (1993).

External links

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

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