San Ferry Ann (1965)

San Ferry Ann Poster

A motley crew of British characters ride The San Ferry Ann to the shores of France where they embark on a weekend of calamity. The campervan family led by Dad and Mum (David Lodge and Joan Sims) create chaos from the moment they set their tires on the shore resulting in frequent run-ins with the Gendarme, while Lewd Grandad (Wilfred Brambell) finds his own misadventures with a newly acquainted friend, a mad German ex-soldier (Ron Moody). Also aboard for the ride is a saucy hitchhiker (Barbara Windsor) who causes a few heads to turn including that of a fellow traveller (Ronnie Stevens) who pursues her affection with comic results. By the end of this weekend the French may well be wishing to say 'au revoir' to these trouble-making tourists. San Ferry Ann is a humorous take on the tradition of the British get-away. A classic sound effect comedy that sits with the likes of similarly praised titles such as 'The Plank', 'Futtock's End' and 'Rhubarb Rhubarb'.

Film Overview
"San Ferry Ann" is a 1965 quiet British comedy film directed by Jeremy Summers. Catering for a broad group, the film includes a star-studded cast including the similarity Joan Sims, Lance Percival, David Lodge, and Rodney Bewes. Shot primarily in France, the film obtains its title from the French expression, 'Ça ne fait rien', which equates to 'it does not matter'.

Plot Summary
The movie starts with a group of British tourists preparing yourself to start an outing to France. The characters are as varied as an ignorant young couple on their honeymoon, a dysfunctional family unit, and a group of rogues out for mischief. The plot is essentially a series of amusing episodes involving these characters as they interact with each other and various other people they encounter in France. As a silent comedy, "San Ferry Ann" integrates a wonderful series of comic sequences that draws humor out of the characters' misadventures and misconceptions across cultural lines.

Key Characters
Amongst the most remarkable characters are Joan Sims, who plays a carefree woman who is always open for an experience and quickly befriends a Frenchman who presents her a poodle, played amusingly by Alan Curtis. Lance Percival provides a noteworthy efficiency as a cyclist who consistently discovers himself in the most unusual circumstances, while David Lodge plays a male with an actual translation of the French language, adding to the comic impact. Other supporting characters, including Wilfrid Brambell, David Lodge, and Ron Moody, all contribute significantly to the movie's amusing ensemble.

Movie Highlights
The film is filled with slapstick humor, injected through different scenes like the various vehicle goes after, comedic miscommunication circumstances, and an unforgettable sequence including a bothersome little pet that keeps turning up inconveniently. In spite of being shot quiet, the movie utilizes a highly meaningful musical background to evoke laughter. Among the most prominent scenes includes a couple, played by Rodney Bewes and Catherine Feller, who continuously bicker and argue but undoubtedly end up in comical yet endearing scenarios, improving the film's light-hearted appeal.

Review and Conclusion
While the lack of discussion can be thought about a daring and innovative choice for a film made in the 1960s, "San Ferry Ann" brilliantly succeeds in elevating the comedy through visual storytelling and slapstick humor. Each episode or situation between characters is well-conceived and skillfully carried out, developing a compilative display screen of entertaining incidents that string together to inform the total story cohesively.

The cast's expressive efficiencies coupled with the skilled usage of sound impacts and music assistance to create a cinematic environment that perfectly compensifies for the absence of spoken communication, making "San Ferry Ann" an entertaining watch. The film, for that reason, offers an exceptional blend of visual storytelling, slapstick humor, and remarkable profile that reveal the comic hilarity and confusion that prowl within human experiences. A manifestation of silent cinema in its advanced form, "San Ferry Ann" maintains its tradition through its ageless humor and deftly drawn characters.

Top Cast

  • David Lodge (small)
    David Lodge
    Dad
  • Joan Sims (small)
    Joan Sims
    Mum
  • Wilfrid Brambell (small)
    Wilfrid Brambell
    Grandad
  • Lynne Carol
    Grandma
  • Barbara Windsor (small)
    Barbara Windsor
    Hiker girl
  • Ronnie Stevens (small)
    Ronnie Stevens
    Hiker
  • Ron Moody (small)
    Ron Moody
    German
  • Graham Stark (small)
    Graham Stark
    Gendarme
  • Rodney Bewes (small)
    Rodney Bewes
    Loverboy
  • Catherine Feller
    Lover Girl