The Naked Truth
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Movie Reviews of The Naked Truth
Movie Review: Terry-Thomas + Peter Sellers = Many Laughs !
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Naked Truth", also known as "Your Past is Showing" is one of those hilariously daffy comedies that Britain seemed to turn out with great regularity in the 50s and into the 60s. The premise is quite outlandish and "over-the-top", but--hey--it's a comedy with never a dull moment, so who cares ?
First I must begin with a confession--I am a life-long, diehard Terry-Thomas fan. Since this film gives him one of his best roles, my review might be a bit prejudiced ! He is "Lord Mayley", a self-important, pompous English peer, who suddenly finds himself being blackmailed by Nigel Dennis ( wonderfully smarmy Dennis Price ), a dirt-digging journalist and publisher of a scandal tabloid, "The Naked Truth". It seems that Lord Mayley has not always been a "faithful husband", and his escapades will be printed for the world to see--unless, of course, he pays 10,000 pounds to slimy Nigel !
Nigel also has other "victims". Obnoxious "Scottish" television personality, Sonny MacGregor (the superb Peter Sellers )--mystery writer, Flora Ransom (formidable Peggy Mount)--and, hoping to marry her American oil-millionaire boyfriend, Melissa Wright (lovely Shirley Eaton).
All of these people individually, later collectively, make hilarious attempts to do away with the odious Nigel Dennis, usually with crazy ideas that backfire very badly. The ending is a genuine rib-tickler.
For Peter Sellers' fans, he has a field day with various disguises and accents, so that he can get close to the nasty Mr. Dennis without being detected. The supporting cast also includes future "Carry On" legend, Joan Sims, as Ethel, Flora Ransom's "scattered" daughter. Dennis Price deserves more kudos--the whole film revolves around his smug, sleazy character--"please don't appeal to my better nature--I don't have one !"
The picture is a black and white, letterbox format--I found the quality to be excellent. The sound is, of course, mono. There are no extras--I would have loved some "memories" from Ms. Eaton.
If you like British comedies with a really witty script, and amusing performances from a fine cast, "The Naked Truth" or "Your Past is Showing"--whichever title you prefer--belongs in your DVD collection. With Mr. Thomas and Mr. Sellers waiting to tickle your funny bone, push that "buy immediately" button, and let Amazon send you this "chucklefest" !
Movie Review: Tabloid Black Comedy - A Jolly Good Show
Summary: 5 Stars
In this Mario Zampi black comedy, Dennis Price plays a black mailer threatening to publish dark secrets about the lives of the people portrayed by the acting ensemble:
--Terry Thomas, Lord Mayley the bumbling upper class cad who is his own worst enemy.
--Peter Sellers, primarily Sonny MacGregor the tv personality and others
--Georgina Cookson, a wonderful Lady Mayley who anticipates her husband's next move and is amused by his low cunning and his foibles.
--Peggy Mount, the mystery novelist who tries to obtain a "Mickey Finn"
--Jean Sims, who gives the "Mickey Finn" to the wrong man and helps Mount dispose of the body in a panic "Oh Mumsy, I could hang for this!"
--Shirley Easton, the young woman with the jealous boyfriend.
The Naked Truth has a wonderful richness of characters who come to life with great character actors playing off one another. It is Georgina Cookson's chain jerking that makes Terry Thomas's antics even funnier. Also, Jean Sims's horrified compliance with "Mumsy's" orders that make both of their characters work so well.
Terry Thomas is an extraordinary character actor. He was blessed with physcial characteristics---the gap tooth grin and gimlet eyed leer---which he then hones to a fine luster with British expressions ("Blast!") He plays his roles flawlessly and with invention. He is a joy to watch.
Peter Sellers is an entirely different sort of actor, although he plays very well with Terry Thomas in a number of movies. Sellers is a whole comedy company rolled into one man. His main character in this movie is Sonny Macgregor, a grating television personality from the period. From there he plays in a number of disguises including a manish female author, an old snoop "Creeping Alopecia", and an Irish rebel. Sellers was the greatest impressionist comedian, and completely unique. Unlike most stand up comics who do impressions, he creates memorable ordinary people. Dr. Strangelove is his most successful film in which he plays multiple characters.
The characters here fumble and flounder in their attempt to escape from the blackmailer's threat until they all come together and events bring about an ingenious solution to the problem. As Terry Thomas might say, "a jolly good show."
Movie Review: Hilarious!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite comedies, not far behind other British offerings from the 50's and 60's, such as Make Mine Mink.
In this madcap farce, a group of hapless people find themselves being blackmailed by a sleazy tabloid publisher played to perfection by Dennis Price. The blackmail victims independently and jointly decide to "eliminate" their problem. But since none of them are murderers by nature, their attempts end up more in bungled backfire than in relief.
The first problem they face is obtaining the means to do the deed. Peter Sellers is featured in one of the funniest scenes as he crosses over to Ireland assuming he can readily obtain some bomb material there from the notoriously explosive Irish rebels. He goes into a typical Irish pub, sprouting shamrocks from his lapels, confident of passing as a true Irish patriot in their midst. But of course, it doesn't quite work out that way. The Irish townspeople in the pub all too readily "smell the blood of an Englishman" and respond accordingly.
Every comedy needs a straight-man (woman) and in this movie, that part is filled by Georgina Cookson who plays the wife of Terry-Thomas in his role as Lord Mayley. Lady Mayley is coolly long-suffering, used to expecting very little from her wastrel husband. Terry-Thomas, not wanting to add fuel to her disaffection, tries to slip past her every night as he returns, defeated from his night's misadventures. He doesn't succeed. She catches him time and again sneaking up the staircase, covered in seaweed, showing other ludicrous dishevelments.
When Norman Cousins adopted the philosophy that "laughter is the best medicine," he fought againt his disease with all the comedy films he could muster. I hope he included The Naked Truth and the other Rank Studio comedies in his armamentarium. If watching this doesn't cure what ails you, nothing will.
Movie Review: A forgotten cult laughable movie!
Summary: 5 Stars
Dennis Price is the ruthless editor of a smutty magazine that deals with these minor and major scandals of public celebrities or renowned political who have committed a little and unspoken sins here and there. And elaborating a true dossier he decides to blackmail them.
That farcical satire is a real tour de force because gather to Terry Thomas and Peter Sellers who are over the top.
Funny and amazing script all the way will make you laugh from start to finish.
The main highlight is when Sellers pass himself off for an Irish terrorist imitating the body language acquiring the very accent and gestures that will make you to hold your seat for avoiding to fall from laughs.
An acidic movie that really doesn't leave behind tree with leaves.
Movie Review: The Naked Truth aka Your Past is Showing
Summary: 5 Stars
This movie is a riot! Peter Sellers is wonderful as usual along with Terry-Thomas. It will keep you laughing. It has to do with blackmail with several people involved in trying to get the evidence back. Along the way, several very funny things happen. This movie is also known as Your Past is Showing.