Rattle of a Simple Man – 1964 | 96 mins | Comedy, Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

A rather disappointing comedy adapted from Charles Dyer’s extended playlet about an innocent football fan from Manchester and the touching evening he spends talking to a London prostitute in her flat. The scenario is not very plausible and despite the occasional touching moment there are few laughs due to an excess of pathos. Diane Cilento is assuredly believable as sweet prostitute Cyrenne but Harry H Corbett is unconvincing in both his romantically naive role and pitiful accent, whilst fellow fan Michael Medwin is patronising and false as Corbett’s loutish friend. It was the last film directed by Muriel Box, wife of producer Sydney Box.

Cotton-miller worker Percy Winthram (Harry H. Corbett) comes to London from Manchester for the Wembley Cup Final. After the game he and his friends end the evening in a Soho strip club. 39-year-old Percy is embarrassed by his erotic surroundings, but accepts a bet from Ginger (Michael Medwin) that he won’t dare take an attractive blonde home and sleep with her. Percy accepts the wager, and the sympathetic blonde, who has overheard the bet, accepts too. After a short taxi ride they arrive at the blonde’s flat but when faced with a scantily-clad female draped over a bed Percy’s nerve fails him. Cyrenne (Diane Cilento) is sympathetic and tells him of her privileged education and aristocratic background. Percy is impressed, but his illusions are quickly shattered by the intervention of Cyrenne’s Italian-speaking brothers. Percy departs into the night to catch his coach home but his brief flirtation with Cyrenne has changed and he returns to her flat. But after more revelations and honesty, Percy flees and just in time catches the coach leaving the station, but everywhere Percy looks he sees Cyrenne staring back at him.