The Plank is a 1967 British slapstick comedy film (51 minutes) made by Associated London Films. It follows the misadventures of two builders who require a floorboard. It was written and directed by Eric Sykes, and produced by Jon Pennington. The story was based on an episode of Eric Sykes’ BBC comedy series Sykes and a… from 1964, called “Sykes and a Plank”. Although not strictly a silent film, it is unusual in having little dialogue; instead, the film is punctuated by grunts, other vocal noises and sound effects.
It may have been baesd on this short comedy which was produced by Pathé Frères in France in 1907 as a silent 35mm short. It was subsequently release by Pathe on their 28mm gauge. This upload comes from a digital transfer from a 28mm copy. The music has been added for extra effect.
After one of the characters uses the last floorboard for heating, the two hapless carpenters have to buy a replacement. They return to the house with the plank on top of a Morris 8 Series E, 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, pantomime 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 (played by Roy Castle) 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.
Two variants exist, running for about 51 and 44 minutes respectively. The film was reissued in 1974,] with some scenes cut down or extended, and some put in a different order, with the music reapplied to suit; some voices were clarified.Although a single plank was depicted throughout the film, two planks were actually used for filming: a thin plank for scenes where actors carry the plank, and a thicker plank for scenes where it is being transported on the Morris Eight and for scenes where a thicker stronger plank was required. In December 2011, one of these planks from the film was sold at auction for £1,050. The cast features many of the top comedians and comic actors of the time.
There were several other films in this genre, the most memorable for me was It’s Your Move. This is the title of two short films again written and directed by Eric Sykes (in 1969 and 1982 respectively). The story of both films involves a married couple moving into a new home and enduring the ineptitude of removal men. As with most other films directed by Sykes, the action unfolds in a style echoing the silent, slapstick comedy era.
