Bindle (One of Them Days) (1966)

Originally conceived as the pilot episode for a 13-part comedy series that was never produced, this short Merton Park production featured Alfie Bass – who had recently become famous in the TV series Bootsie and Snudge – in a rare leading role.

Bass plays Joseph Bindle, a good-humoured Cockney chap of advancing years (based on a character created by Herbert Jenkins in the 1920s) who scrapes a living by helping his second-hand dealer friends fleece American tourists.

In the evening, Bindle goes home and – beer in hand – talks to a photograph of his late wife, Liz (Carmel McSharry), then falls asleep in the chair to dream about his younger days, losing his job as a furniture removal man after losing a horse-drawn pantechnicon full of furniture (with the client’s wife and parrot locked on board), embarrassing his wife at a get-together and falling out with a friend who tries to get Bindle to work for him for a lower rate after sacking a man who worked at a much higher rate.

The film was released in British cinemas as a second feature in 1973.

Joseph Bindle
Alfie Bass
Ginger
Johnny Wade
Mrs Liz Bindle
Carmel McSharry
Millie
Janina Faye
Mr Hearty
Patrick Newell
Martha Hearty
Brenda Cowling
Mr Stokes
John Tate
Mr Fawcett
Ivor Dean
Reverend Sopley
Kenneth Benda
William
Hugh Janes

Director
Peter Saunders