Some Will, Some Won’t (1970)

An eccentric practical joker (Wilfrid Brambell) plans to have the last laugh on his relatives after his death. His will stipulates that each of them must perform a task that is totally out of character before they can inherit their share of his money.

Agnes (Thora Hird), who makes the lives of hotel staff miserable, must find work in a hotel and keep it for a month. Timid bank clerk Herbert (Ronnie Corbett) must hold up his own bank. Philandering Simon (Leslie Phillips) must marry the first unmarried woman he speaks to. And author Deniston (Michael Hordern), who writes cheap thrillers, must commit a crime and go to gaol.

Laughter in Paradise (1951) was a patchy, but thoroughly amiable slice of whimsy, blessed with superb performances by Alastair Sim and Joyce Grenfell.

If this insipid remake is supposed to be a comedy, however, it’s not only an insult to the memory of the original, but also breaches the Trades Descriptions Act.

What makes this an even more depressing experience is the utter waste of a cast that includes James Robertson-Justice, Arthur Lowe and Dennis Price, in addition to Thora Hird, Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett and Leslie Phillips as the quartet forced to humiliate themselves to benefit from the joker’s will.

Herbert Russell
Ronnie Corbett
Agnes Russell
Thora Hird
Deniston Russell
Michael Hordern
Simon Russell
Leslie Phillips
Lucille
Barbara Murray
Henry Russell
Wilfrid Brambell
Benson
Dennis Price
Sir Charles Robson
James Robertson-Justice
Sheila Wilcott
Sheila Steafel
Elizabeth Robson
Eleanor Summerfield
Sergeant
Arthur Lowe
Stewart
Noel Davis
Miss Heath
Toni Gilpin
Williams
Harold Goodwin
Endicott
Noel Howlett
Mrs Craik
Diana King
PC Arthur
Stephen Lewis
Wagstaff
John Nettleton
Mr Dale
Brian Oulton
Kitty
Toni Palmer
Purvis
Frank Thornton
Ricci
David Lander
Lettie
Robin Tolhurst
Janine
Vicki Woolf

Director
Duncan Wood

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