The Knack... and How to Get It (1965)

Attention, All You Carnally-Curious Viewers! - If you want the "knack" and seriously wanna know "how to get it" - Then steer clear of this quirky, off-the-wall, 1965, comedy - 'Cause it's sure to leave your head spinning, as you find yourself even more clueless than you already are.If nothing else - "The Knack" (directed by American film-maker, Richard Lester) is (movie-wise) historically significant in that it is sandwiched in between 2 of Lester's more notable pictures - "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!", which, of course, starred the Beatles.Even though "The Knack" (which was set in London and filmed in b&w) is a pretty silly and scatterbrained tale about the lustful pursuit for sexual conquests - It certainly did have its interesting and entertaining moments.And, yes - With "The Knack" now being 52 years old - It is, indeed, dated - But still definitely worth a view. Yet - With that said - I do caution you, that its decidedly-eccentric brand of humour isn't gonna appeal to everyone.

Cool and sophisticated Tolen (Ray Brooks) has a monopoly on womanizing - with a long list of conquests to prove it - while the naive and awkward Colin (Michael Crawford) desperately wants a piece of it...This is very strange. We start with a creepy womanizer and a man who looks up to him. This seems about right for the 1960s, and still comes off as sleazy without ever having any nudity. Well done, Richard Lester.But then it takes a turn where the creepy guy gets even creepier and is accused of rape. While his methods are very much putting people under duress, the film decides to make a joke of rape rather than take any of it seriously. I don't know how to feel about any of this. Is anyone in this film worth looking up to?

Let's get one thing straight ; for the vast majority of Londoners the so - called "Swinging Sixties" happened to somebody else,somewhere else.A few streets in the West End were a magnet for the rich children of the Chelsea Set who were determined to outdo the excesses of their parents as a perverted form of noblesse oblige.They were prepared to wear any clothes,no matter how outrageous,take any drug,no matter how dangerous,and embrace any music,no matter how pretentious.The more badly they behaved the more they attracted the attention of the opinion makers in the media,and the opinion makers looked upon their works and decided that they were a "Good Thing".Thus was born the myth of Swinging London;in truth an area of a few hundred square yards near "Liberty" where mummy did her shopping. Anne Jellicoe's play "The Knack" was adapted by Dick Lester,the Boswell of Swinging London.Mr Ray Brooks plays Tolen,a young man who has a way with the ladies.Mr Michael Crawford plays his chum who wishes to emulate him. Miss Rita Tushingham plays a young girl who falls under Tolen's spell. Set in a distinctly unswinging Victorian Terrace "The Knack" is an outstanding example of overblown self-indulgence.Not one of the leading characters is sympathetic,the dialogue is shockingly bad,the gags Goon Show rejects.Everyone involved seems to think they're in a clever witty movie,but I'm afraid they're labouring under a delusion.They are in fact involved in a clever - clever movie. I found the "comic" voice -overs and sub-titles tedious in the extreme. Endless bleached out shots of girls in mini skirts,Mr Brooks in black leather riding an Ariel Arrow (surely the least swinging motor cycle ever built) and Mr Crawford's tight trousers merely induced boredom. Eventually the whole swinging sixties/swinging London thing faded quietly away. Most ordinary Londoners noticed its departure about as much as they had noticed its arrival.Films like "The Knack" and "Georgy Girl","Blow up" and "Darling" that helped fuel the myth now seem like curios,their true value merely historical. If you're not old enough to know what it was really like in the 1960s "A kind of loving" will give you a much more honest picture. If you want to see what mods vs rockers was really about watch "Quadrophenia". If you want to see blokes dressed like Tolen but not inhabiting a fantasy world watch "The Leather Boys". If you want to be irritated beyond measure by a film full of smug self-regard watch "The Knack".

One of my 10 favorite films. An aimless, fantastical collection of site gags and non-sequiturs, punctuated by verbal graffiti in the comments of onlookers. What makes it so great is the charming spirit of youthful innocence throughout and the captivating soundtrack.