Inn for Trouble – 1960 | 90 mins | Comedy | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Amusing rather than funny comedy inspired by the characters from the 50’ ITV sitcom The Larkins.

After 25 years service with Belcher Bros brewing company, Alf Larkin (David Kossoff) expects to be offered a public house to manage as this has been an traditional rule of the company, but manager John Belcher (Leslie Phillips) doesn’t believe Alf is the management type and rewards him with a pen instead. As soon as Alf’s wife, the indemonstrable Ada (Peggy Mount), hears this news she makes a beeline for the Belchers management office and demands her husband be given a pub to manage. John Belcher is suitably impressed and offers The Larkins tenancy of The Earl of Osbourne.

The Earl of Osbourne turns out to be an intriguing pub with French barmaid Yvette Dupres (Yvonne Monlaur), no customers, a policeman keen to close the pub and a rival firm interested in buying it because they have advance knowledge of a new road being built through the centre of Osbourne Parish.

To overcome the lack of business The Larkins hit upon the novel idea of creating road blocks to divert the passing traffic to the pub; but the pub still fails to attract locals from the nearby village. Ma Larkin discovers the locals don’t like Belchers beer so she begins stocking Aussie ale and soon the pub is heaving with customers. During one madcap evening of drinking competitions, flooding and contract offers, The Earl of Osbourne’s future is resolved.