Adventures of a Plumber's Mate is a 1978 British sex comedy film directed by Stanley Long and starring Christopher Neil as Sid South. It was written by Stephen D. Frances and Aubrey Cash. Following Adventures of a Taxi Driver (1976) and Adventures of a Private Eye (1977), it was the final film of the series.
Contents
Cast
Christopher Neil as Sid South
Arthur Mullard as Blackie
Stephen Lewis as Crapper
Anna Quayle as Loretta Proudfoot
Willie Rushton as Dodger
Nina West as Sally
Prudence Drage as Janice
Suzy Mandel as first tennis girl
Christopher Biggins as Robin
Elaine Paige as Susie (credited as Daisy)
Leon Greene as Biggs
Peter Cleall as Carson
Richard Caldicot as Wallings
Jonathan Adams as rent collector
Claire Davenport as Belinda
Jerold Wells as Stropper
Derek Martin as motorcycle dealer
Stephen Lewis's character Crapper is very similar to his TV role in On The Buses as Inspector Blake.
Critical reception
For Monthly Film Bulletin, Tim Pulleine wrote: "A glum essay in blue-nosed British farce, featuring a dismayingly loutish protagonist and rapidly abandoning any pretence at an integrated plot. The most regrettable aspect of the film is that a vicious criminal who beats up his wife is presented as an acceptable figure of fun. Elsewhere, the lack of concern for convincing detail is demonstrated by having a supposed Picasso painting hanging on the side of the owner's swimming pool."
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "An example of the British blue comedy boom of the 1970s, this tatty tale presents wife-beating as slapstick. Christopher Neil is unappealing as the hero, whose attempts to settle his debts bring him into contact with endless sex-starved women and gangster William Rushton."