Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Ronnie Baxter |
| Products | Comedy film |
Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width is a 1973 British comedy film directed and produced by Ronnie Baxter. The cast includes John Bluthal, Joe Lynch, Yootha Joyce, Wendy King, and Bernard Stone. This film serves as a spin-off from the ITV television series Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (1967–71), which depicted the lives of two contrasting tailors working in London's East End.
Wendy King, recognized for winning Opportunity Knocks and releasing her 1971 album "Ukelele Girl," portrays the character Rita. Notably, her album is displayed in a shop window during the film.
Plot
The narrative centers on Manny and Patrick, who recruit a new assistant named Rita. Following a gambling-related dispute, they encounter personal difficulties, endure a burglary, and eventually embark on a journey to Rome where they impersonate priests.
Cast
- John Bluthal as Manny Cohen
- Joe Lynch as Patrick Kelly
- Yootha Joyce as Mrs. Finch
- Wendy King as Rita
- Ann Beach as Bridie
- Eddie Byrne as Father Ignatious
- Bernard Stone as Nathan
- Bill Maynard as Larkin
- David Nettheim as rabbi
- Ivor Dean as Bishop Rourke
- David Kelly as Murphy
- Jerold Wells as tramp
- Vicki Woolf as Maria
- Hilary Farr as Gina (credited as Hilary Labow)
- Paddy Joyce as Riley
- Steve Plytas as Swiss Guard
- Peter Denyer as lad
Reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin commented that Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width resembles three episodes of the original Thames TV show more than a unified feature-length film. The plot, which revolves around Manny's aspiration to visit Israel, primarily functions to connect standalone sketches. These include scenes such as a funeral where the coffin accidentally falls into the river and a comedic moment set in a stonemason's workshop featuring Bill Maynard. The movie heavily leans on Irish and Jewish cultural stereotypes: Patrick is depicted drinking Guinness, betting on horses, and displaying an image of the Pope, while Manny guards his cash box alongside a photograph of Moshe Dayan. The farcical humor is diminished by an uninspired naturalistic approach.
According to Sky Movies, it ranks among the better television spin-offs but remains essentially a compilation of three episodes linked by a weak central storyline. The episodes focus on the contentious yet affectionate dynamic between two East London tailors—one Irish, one Jewish—and consist predominantly of sketch-based content.
From a commercial standpoint, the film did not achieve success at the box office.
References