His and Hers * (1961, Terry-Thomas, Janette Scott, Wilfrid Hyde White, Nicole Maurey, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Joan Hickson, Oliver Reed, Francesca Annis) – Classic Movie Review 12,112

The 1961 British comedy film His and Hers is just about worth the effort for glimpses of the vintage cast: Terry-Thomas, Janette Scott, Wilfrid Hyde White, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Joan Hickson, Oliver Reed. 

Director Brian Desmond Hurst’s tediously scripted 1961 British flop comedy His and Hers followed a run of hits for the usually delightful Terry-Thomas, playing Reggie Blake, a writer who changes for the better after researching his novel in North Africa, getting lost in the desert and being befriended by tribesmen in Africa.

Janette Scott is uncomfortably cast in an unsympathetic role as his wife, Fran, unable to live with him when he comes home and adopts Bedouin dress and customs. Then they split their home down the middle, into His and Hers. Wilfrid Hyde-White has a better time as Reggie’s publisher, who rejects his new novel out of hand.

Despite a stalwart cast, who are clearly struggling against a painful, badly dated script, it never really gets going at all. A Carry On line-up supports engagingly: Joan Sims as Hortense, Kenneth Williams (as a policeman!) and Kenneth Connor as Harold. Look out for the young Oliver Reed (as a poet!).

It is just about worth the effort for glimpses of the vintage cast: Terry-Thomas, Janette Scott, Wilfrid Hyde White, Nicole Maurey, Joan Sims, Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Joan Hickson, Oliver Reed, and Francesca Annis.

His and Hers is directed by Brian Desmond Hurst, runs 90 minutes, is made by Sabre Film Production, released by Eros, is written by Stanley Mann, Jan Lowell [Jan Englund] and Mark Lowell, is shot in black and white by Edward Scaife, is produced by Hal E Chester, and scored by John Addison.

The cast are Terry-Thomas as Reggie Blake, Janette Scott as Fran Blake, Wilfrid Hyde-White as Charles Dunton, Nicole Maurey as Simone Rolfe, Joan Sims as Hortense, Kenneth Connor as Harold, Meier Tzelniker as Felix McGregor, Joan Hickson as Phoebe, Oliver Reed as Poet, Francesca Annis as Wanda, Dorinda Stevens as Dora, Kenneth Williams as Policeman, Barbara Hicks as Woman, Billy Lambert as Baby, Colin Gordon as TV announcer, and Marie Devereux as Wife.

It was released on 24 January 1961 in London, UK.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,112

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