Are You Being Served? (film)

Are You Being Served? (film)

Company type	Film
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	1977 (1977)
Founder	David Croft, Jeremy Lloyd
Headquarters	London , United Kingdom
Key people	Bob Kellett (director), Nat Cohen (executive producer)
Products	Comedy film
Parent	EMI Films

Are You Being Served? is a 1977 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and penned by David Croft alongside Jeremy Lloyd. It is an adaptation of the 1972–85 BBC television sitcom bearing the same title. The narrative centers on employees working in the men's and women's clothing sections of London's Grace Brothers department store.

The film was derived from a successful stage adaptation performed at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool, featuring the original TV ensemble including Mollie Sugden, John Inman, Frank Thornton, Trevor Bannister, Arthur Brough, Wendy Richard, and Nicholas Smith. This production also marked one of the last contributions by executive producer Nat Cohen.

Plot

As Grace Brothers undergoes refurbishment, management grants the staff a paid vacation to Costa Plonka, a resort in Spain. The employees mistakenly assume they have been allocated seven "penthouses," but in reality, they receive "tent-houses" situated outside the hotel — with the exception of Mr Harman, who is assigned a luxury suite, sparking jealousy among colleagues.

Following a series of unfortunate events, the group becomes caught in a firefight between revolutionaries and government forces. Their rescue comes in the form of tanks commandeered by Young Mr Grace, who had intended to visit his staff but was unable to secure transportation.

Cast

• John Inman as Mr Wilberforce Clayborne Humphries, senior sales assistant at the men's counter.
• Mollie Sugden as Mrs Betty Slocombe, head of the ladies' department and principal female character.
• Frank Thornton as Captain Stephen Peacock, the floorwalker at Grace Brothers.
• Trevor Bannister as Mr Dick Lucas, junior member of the men's department.
• Wendy Richard as Miss Shirley Brahms, a Cockney junior in the ladies’ section and friend to Mrs Slocombe.
• Arthur Brough as Mr Ernest Grainger, head of the men's department; this was his final role before passing away prior to series six.
• Nicholas Smith as Mr Cuthbert Rumbold, floor manager.
• Harold Bennett as Young Mr Grace, elderly proprietor of Grace Brothers.
• Arthur English as Mr Beverley Harman, head of packing.
• Karan David as Conchita, a young waitress at the hotel.
• Glyn Houston as Cesar Rodriguez, a revolutionary enamored with Mrs Slocombe.
• Andrew Sachs as Don Carlos Bernardo, hotel manager and unwilling accomplice to Cesar.
• Derek Griffiths as the Emir.
• Nadim Sawalha and Sheila Steafel portraying various customers.
• Penny Irving as Miss Nicholson, Young Mr Grace’s new secretary.
• Raymond Bowers as Henry, barber at Grace Brothers.
• Paul Grist as Customs Officer.

Production

Following successful adaptations of television series such as On the Buses and Steptoe and Son, EMI Films commissioned Jeremy Lloyd and David Croft to transform Are You Being Served? into a feature film. The writers based their screenplay on a stage show they had created from the sitcom, which had been effectively staged in Blackpool in 1976 under Bernard Delfont’s production—then head of EMI. However, this theatrical version involved significant expenses due to its extensive cast.

The film was directed by Bob Kellett, who had previously helmed other EMI comedy projects including Up Pompeii. While initially unfamiliar with working under an external director, the cast quickly adjusted to Kellett’s structured style appropriate for cinematic production.

Principal filming occurred primarily at Elstree Studios, with a single day shot at London Gatwick Airport. Budget limitations ruled out filming on location in Spain; consequently, the Spanish resort setting was constructed on studio backlots. Frank Thomson later remarked that financial restrictions impacted production quality, noting inconsistencies such as scenes depicting an empty resort despite plot points implying it should be crowded.

Release

The movie made its debut in cinemas across the United Kingdom on 31 July 1977.

Box office

According to director Bob Kellett, the film achieved a "moderate level of success." Co-creator David Croft pointed out that the production was "entirely studio-based," which influenced both its marketability and distribution, leading to modest financial gains despite its comedic content. Jeremy Lloyd described the film as "somewhat successful," although neither he nor Croft received the profit shares they had anticipated.

Critical

At the time of release, critical responses were predominantly unfavorable. John Pym of the Monthly Film Bulletin criticized the film’s humor for relying heavily on stereotypical British wordplay and outdated jokes. Later evaluations, including Michael Stailey’s review from DVD Verdict, condemned the film for breaking numerous conventions of comedy and filmmaking. The production is often highlighted for its unoriginality and weak narrative structure. Presently, it holds a 60% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, marginally surpassing the threshold for positive reviews.