British Comedy Guide
The Sandwich Man. Image shows from L to R: Mrs De Vere (Dora Bryan), The Sandwich Man (Michael Bentine)
The Sandwich Man

The Sandwich Man

  • 1966 film

Film charting a day in the life of a sandwich-board man and pigeon-fancier as he wanders the streets of London. Stars Michael Bentine, Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors and more.

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The Sandwich Man. The Sandwich Man (Michael Bentine). Copyright: Rank Organisation / ITV Studios

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1966
Stars
Michael Bentine, Dora Bryan, Harry H. Corbett, Bernard Cribbins, Diana Dors, Ian Hendry, Stanley Holloway, Wilfrid Hyde-White and more
Writers
Michael Bentine and Robert Hartford-Davis
Director
Robert Hartford-Davis
Producer
Peter Newbrook
Company

Modern advertising can take many forms, but for both mobility and sheer economy nothing can match the Sandwich Man. These walking billboards with human fillings are amongst the sights of most big cities and afford a unique angle from which to observe life.

Horace Quilby is one such sandwich man, who works on behalf of Finklebaum and O'Casey, West End gents' tailors, and is a resplendent sight in his top hat and tails as he walks the streets of London each day.

But today is no ordinary day for Horace, as he awaits the return of Esmerelda, his beloved favourite racing pigeon, who is taking part in the race of her life, home from Bordeaux.

Whilst awaiting news of Esmerelda's return from his next-door neighbour Mrs De Vere, Horace encounters vicars and theatrical types, models and car salesmen, Scout masters, road workmen, newspaper sellers, park-keepers, and all manner of other unique individuals in the world's most vibrant city. Perhaps he can help some of them along the way, too.

Additional details

UK certificate
U
Duration
91 minutes
Distributors

The Rank Organisation

Also known as
  • That Swinging City
Production
Location
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Monday 25th December 2023 at 6:20am on TPTV
  • Friday 27th October 2023 at 10:45am on TPTV
  • Tuesday 27th June 2023 at 2:30pm on TPTV

Recording details

  • Silvertown - Evelyn Road in Silvertown stands in for Quilby's Wandsworth home community (Link)
  • Dulwich Park - Park sequences

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