Come Play With Me

Come Play With Me is a British comedic film released in 1977, and it boasts a notable ensemble cast featuring Irene Handl, Alfie Bass, and George Harrison Marks. It comes from a time when farcical sex comedies were a popular genre of film within British culture, displaying a unique blend of cheeky humor, slapstick shenanigans, and burlesque naughtiness. Despite the film's risqué content, it is characteristically British in its eccentricities.

The protagonist of Come Play With Me is George Harrison Marks, who fills the role of Harrison Fitch. Fitch is a cunning, bumbling character who is up to his neck in debt, while trying to run a failing health farm. Marks, who was a well-known glamour photographer and adult film producer, brings in a certain uniqueness to the character with his larger-than-life persona and comic timing. His performance gives the film an almost semi-autobiographical quality, making it a vibrant part of the narrative.

The divine Irene Handl, a veteran British actress, splendidly delivers the role of Lady Bovington, the gullible and well-to-do woman who is easily manipulated by Fitch. Her portrayal of this character is nothing less than heartwarming, adding to the film's charm. At the same time, her varied expressions when faced with absurd situations provide some of the best comic sequences in the film.

Alfie Bass, another renowned face from British cinema, plays a dual role in the film - as the mayor of the town and also as a rather unsuccessful mob boss. His excellent portrayal of both the characters, each with their own quirks and eccentricities, brings laughter aplenty and makes the film a delightful watch. His scenes where he deals with both the town’s issues and his mob's foibles are some of the film's highlights.

The film's narrative revolves around the antics at Fitch's struggling health farm. To counter the dwindling finances and to get out of the clutches of the mob, led by Alfie Bass’s character, Fitch comes up with a ludicrous plan. He transforms the health farm into the 'Hotel Bovington,' an unconventional boarding establishment that caters to a very specific clientele, under the patronage of the gullible Lady Bovington.

Adding to the colorful ensemble are an array of eccentric characters including the unsuspecting local townsfolk, the quirky guests of the health farm-turned-hotel, and plenty of glamorous women as employees, who were brought in by Fitch to cater to the guests. The ensemble’s interactions with these unorthodox business plans and the resulting hilarious situations form a significant part of the film.

Finally, the mise en scène of the 1970s is captured exceptionally well in the film. The portrayal of the British countryside, the nostalgic interiors of the health-farm-turned-hotel, and the colorful outfits all add to the film's aesthetic pleasure and are a testament to the era it represents.

Come Play With Me is helmed by director Harrison Marks, who manages to sculpt an engaging narrative from a thin story by applying elements of slapstick, farce, and bawdy humor. His directorial intervention set the film's tone and pacing, earning Come Play With Me a cult status among lovers of this genre.

The comedy is crassly genuine, witty, and laden with innuendos. Audiences familiar with British humor would find that it serves as an epitome of naughty British Humor from this time. The film, despite its share of raunchiness, manages not to cross the line into vulgarity, which marks the brilliance of its execution.

Whether you are a fan of 1970s British film culture or someone who enjoys a playful, risqué comedy, Come Play With Me could be a wonderful choice. The outré performances of the lead actors, the narrative’s funny and bizarre turns, and its idiosyncratic humor render the film both enjoyable and memorable.