The Intelligence Men

In the late '50s and early '60s, producer Hugh Stewart had success with Norman Wisdom. He hoped to do even better with Eric and Ernie, whose genius was already evident to millions of British TV viewers. Unfortunately, the pair made only three films, and none had the improvisatory wit or cheek of their best TV work. This is their debut, a feeble spy spoof, culminating in the attempted assassination of a Russian ballerina (Olrich) during a performance of Swan Lake at Covent Garden. A long way short of a classic, but it does have its sunshine moments.