Donald Sinden was a competent actor but this film needed a star - Dirk Bogarde, or Kenneth More or even John Gregson. I can see why they went with Sinden - he supported in Doctor in the House - but he hasn't got it.
Director J Lee Thompson seems to know it too - he continually cuts away from Sinden, down plays him, and goes for the supporting cast, which includes reliables like James Robertson Justice, Stanley Holloway, Jeannie Carson (as his true love interest) and Diana Dors (as his fiancee).
Once again Dors is wasted in too small a part - oh maybe making the part bigger would have thrown off the film, but it's a shame she couldn't have played the lead. Diana Dors wrestling with an alligator would have been fun. She commits as always - actually to be fair all the cast do, they're all on the bridge at the end which collapses they all fall in the water and get drenched.
There is some charm, bright colour, Thompson does a good job for someone not known for comedy. It doesn't have particularly strong jokes. Surely there was more to be had with alligator humour? It's like they have this way out premise but don't really develop it. It's a half hearted alligator film.
It's also a half hearted musical - Carson breaks into song, like a real proper musical. There's another song later on, a scene where some ad people sing a song written by Sinden - but that's it. Why not throw in another few songs? Having just two feels weird.
I was disappointed Sinden mentions going to Ireland for a cricket game at the beginning but there's no more cricket.
The cast is surprisingly well known - Frankie Howerd has a cameo, Stephen Boyd pops up as Carson's brother (he looks completely like a Rank 50s star with that thick bryclreamed hair), Joan Hickson has a small role, Margaret Rutherford has a very funny scene.
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