The Naked Truth (1958)

Way back in 1957, you were simply not allowed to release a movie in the U.S.A. with a title like The Naked Truth, so this film made its U.S. tour re-titled as Your Past Is Showing! Despite its first-class cast of deft farceurs like first-billed Terry-Thomas, plus Peter Sellers, Shirley Eaton (any movie with Shirley Eaton is automatically a must-see item as far as I'm concerned), Peggy Mount, Dennis Price, Wilfrid Lawson and Dora Bryan, I feel that a stronger director than Mario Zampi would have punched home the comedy with far more impact than Mr. Zampi was able to achieve. Some of the jokes are allowed to run on far too long, but fortunately enough succeed to make a viewing worthwhile – despite the fact that it all comes to a very, very lame conclusion.

Whether by it's original title, THE NAKED TRUTH, or the name it was given here in the States, YOUR PAST IS SHOWING, this film is almost continuously funny and sometimes downright hilarious. What a cast! Sellers is remarkable playing many different characters and shines except for one brief moment when you can see him "acting" and trying to upstage Terry-Thomas. Thomas is wonderful as are Peggy Mount and Joan Sims as her addled daughter. The beautiful Shirley Eaton shows a flair for comedy as well as looking amazing in every scene.If you want some good belly laughs give this little known British comedy a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

The Naked Truth is a funny and wicked satire of the tabloid-press industry and celebrity culture. The story follows four celebrities Sonny MacGregor {Peter Sellers}, Lord Mayley {Terry-Thomas}, Melissa Right {Shirley Eaton} and Flora Ransom {Peggy Mount}. Each of them being blackmailed by unscrupulous magazine reporter Nigel Dennis {Dennis Price}. Who if his demands aren't met will publish damning stories that will kill of the respective careers off the celebrities.Cue a unified target of the four, one thing in common, to kill the oblivious Dennis. This is wonderfully set up for a number of excellent, and well constructed attempts at assassinating the bounder and cad reporter. But naturally, not all is going to go to plan, with the assassins being their own worst enemy at times. As can be expected with this cast list {Joan Sims also appears} it's acted with no little comic gravitas and the direction from Mario Zampi is smooth and at ease with the material. A tidy enough British comedy, that's even black at times, even if it fails to truly reach the great heights that its cast list suggests it should. 6/10

Michael Pertwee penned this original screenplay about a British blackmailer threatening to expose celebrity secrets in a new publication inspired by the American scandal sheets. Comedy begins well, but doesn't have an incisive nature...nor a desire to bring out the darkly humorous ideas hinted at in the premise. Peter Sellers--cast as a popular television personality with blue-hairs--has his patented maniacal gleam and nervous smile, but not many jokes to work with, while hammy Terry-Thomas is mostly held in check (both actors might have been better used portraying the blackmailer). Supporting players are equally at a loss, though everyone tries hard. Picture doesn't look especially good, and it fails to give us a persuasive sense of time and place, falling apart after 20 minutes in. Released Stateside as "Your Past Is Showing". *1/2 from ****