His and Hers (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1961 |
| Founder | Brian Desmond Hurst (director) |
| Products | Comedy film |
His and Hers is a 1961 British comedy film helmed by director Brian Desmond Hurst and featuring performances by Terry-Thomas, Janette Scott, and Wilfrid Hyde-White. The storyline follows an unconventional writer who attempts to enforce his way of life upon his unwilling spouse.
Plot
During his research for the novel I Conquered the Desert in North Africa, Reggie Blake becomes lost in the desert. After being saved by a Bedouin tribe and brought back home, Reggie enthusiastically embraces Bedouin attire and traditions, much to the annoyance of his wife, Fran. Finding it impossible to coexist with him, she opts to split their residence between them. Additional tension emerges when Reggie's publisher declines his latest manuscript.
Cast
- 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 television announcer
- Marie Devereux as wife
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin characterized the movie as a satire targeting bestseller culture but criticized it for lacking originality and failing to maintain comedic momentum, highlighting the scriptwriter’s limited understanding of literary milieus. The review pointed out the dependence on recycled humor instead of innovative content.
According to The Radio Times Guide to Films, which awarded it 1 out of 5 stars, the primary interest lies in identifying familiar actors such as Oliver Reed and Kenneth Williams. It observed that Terry-Thomas’s character transitions from a buffoonish persona to a more sympathetic figure during his desert expedition.
Leslie Halliwell described the film as "the thinnest of comedy ideas," resulting in a production with minimal substance.