French Dressing – 1963 | 86 mins | Comedy | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Sixties-style slapstick comedy set in a British seaside resort partly inspired by Jacques Tati’s Monsieur Hulot’s Holiday. Director Ken Russell’s debut feature film is rigidly structured with daft montages, tableaux and speeded up scenes to add zest to the fun, but sadly the weak script is crying out for a few good gags. When released the film was critically mauled for its Carry-On style humour. Newcomer Alita Naughton has an appealing and breezy personality, although she surprising seems to have retired soon afterwards.

Jim (James Booth), a deck chair attendant at Gormleigh-on-Sea, a deserted holiday resort, takes over the post of publicity officer. He and his friend Henry (Roy Kinnear), the entertainments officer, import Bardot-like French sex kitten Francoise Fayol (Marisa Mell) to boost its sleepy summer season and organise a film festival. Press and holiday makers arrive in force but the festival is sabotaged by the mayors of rival resorts. Judy (Alita Naughton), Jim’s American journalist girlfriend, writes an unfavourable review of the French film star which incites her to leave. To save the day Judy, disguised in a blond wig and sun glasses, opens the nudist beach but in heavy rain Jim rescues her from the embarrassing position.