| Rhubarb | |
|---|---|
) | |
| Directed by | Eric Sykes |
| Produced by | Jon Penington |
| Written by | Eric Sykes |
| Starring | Harry Secombe Eric Sykes |
| Music by | Brian Fahey |
| Cinematography | Arthur Wooster |
| Edited by | Anthony Sloman (as Anthony B. Sloman) |
Production company | Avalon Productions Ltd |
| Distributed by | Warner-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 37 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Rhubarb was a 1969 British short film written and directed by Eric Sykes, starring Sykes and Harry Secombe.[1] The dialogue consisted entirely of repetitions of the word "rhubarb", all the characters last names were "Rhubarb", and even the number plates on vehicles were "RHU BAR B". A baby "spoke" by holding a sign with the word "Rhubarb" written on it.
"Rhubarb" is a radio idiom for unintelligible background speech. Typically extras would mutter the word over and over to provide ambience for a crowd or party scene. In The Goon Show the cast was usually only the three principals, who would pretend to try to sound like a larger group by repeating "rhubarb" very quickly but clearly, with outbreaks of "Custard!" for good measure. Sykes was a close collaborator and friend of the Goons. He remade the piece in 1980 for Thames Television, as Rhubarb Rhubarb.
Plot
A Police Inspector and a vicar play a round of golf. The Police Inspector has a Constable help him to cheat by removing his golf ball from awkward situations, and the vicar ultimately requests divine intervention.
Cast
- Harry Secombe ... Vicar Rhubarb
- Eric Sykes ... Police Inspector Rhubarb
- Jimmy Edwards ... Police Constable Rhubarb
- Kenneth Connor ... Mr Rhubarb
- Ann Lancaster ... Mrs Rhubarb
- Hattie Jacques ... Nurse Rhubarb
- Anastasia Penington ... Baby Rhubarb
- Graham Stark ... Golfer Rhubarb
- Sheree Winton ... Lady Pupil Rhubarb
- Gordon Rollings ... Artist Rhubarb
- Johnny Speight ... Gents Rhubarb
Critical reception
Allmovie wrote, "sight gags and pantomime dominate this engaging 37 minute feature."[2]
See also
- Walla
- Rhubarb Rhubarb, the 1980 remake of Rhubarb.
- Other Eric Sykes short silent films in similar style: The Plank (1967), The Plank (1979 remake of the 1967 film), It's Your Move (1982), Mr. H Is Late (1988) and The Big Freeze (1993).
References
- ^ "Rhubarb". BFI. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012.
- ^ "Rhubarb (1970) - Trailers, Reviews, Synopsis, Showtimes and Cast - AllMovie". AllMovie.
External links