Percy (1971): The Bizarre British Comedy You’ve Never Heard Of

[@BarryFrancis]

Am I the only one to find it a bit funny (as in strange not ha ha) that Hywel Bennett would star in this film called Percy then a few years later star in a sitcom called Shelley?

[@paulschauerman2052]

I saw it in the 90's. This sort of film used to be shown on late night BBC1 or 2. I watched it because I knew about it through being a Kinks fan.

[@MrBloxboy]

Also worth noting was the sound track was provided by the sixties group "The Kinks", with some really good songs in it.😁

[@paultanker5606]

G'day to you, saw this when it first came out good laugh, going around asking Ladies do they recognize this was Hilarious, when the West Indian Lady answered the Door I nearly Died Laughing, Great Music too Kinks what more do you need, good fun! Armadale West Aust.

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

The Kinks brought me here. Ordered the Blu-ray today ❤

[@DrTomoculus]

I'm very surprised there is no mention of The Kinks soundtrack.

[@JacknVictor]

Hywell Bennet (Hywell is pronounced more like 'Hugh-ull' - to rhyme with 'fuel') was a very talented stagge, screen and tv actor, playing in many stage shows and many popular movies and TV shows, from the 1960's to the early 2000's on TV most notably in acclaimed sitcom "Shelley" and also about a decade later "The Return of Shelley" not long before his retirement from acting, he played the character of a ruthless gangland gangster 'Jack Dalton' 'in BBC's soap, 'Eastenders'. He passed on 24 July 2017 (aged 73). His brother is the actor, Alun Lewis (Bennett) who is also a stage and TV actor, and was mostly famous for the roles of 'Darryl' the jailbird husband on hit sitcom 'Birds of a Feather' and for playing the character of 'Vic Windsor' on ITV'S 'Emmerdale' and also played the same character in the both in-show fictional and real life charting pop/country band from Ennerdale, 'The Woolpackers' amongst his other roles. As of this date he is around 75 years of age

[@decker37]

The Kinks did the soundtrack

[@mcsporran7228]

I was 11 when this came out and I remember seeing the adverts for it on billboards.

[@mattking5936]

Many brits over 55 have heard of this film. I certainly remember it.

[@tombrunila2695]

Great movie! It could not be made today!

[@MirlitronOne]

It's difficult not to like anything that Hywel Bennett was in. RIP.

[@jabx1231]

I remember watching this back in the mid 70s when I was in my late teens definitely a different type of humour but from a time when people weren’t so easily offended as they seem to be now

[@JackFirebrace1917]

With a soundtrack by The Kinks.

[@BrianRPaterson]

I always enjoyed Hywell Bennett. Especially as Ricky Tarr in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy.

[@raymondokonski7018]

The 1974 follow-up (Percy’s Progress) tried to follow-up - but as Bennett refused to reprise his role, it was even less of a draw. It blended in with allthe’Confessions Of’fillers that EMI preferred to fund.

[@janesda]

Notable for the striptease of Antonia Ellis of UFO fame, as well as the uncredited rewrite by Michael Palin and Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. That's why I'd heard of it.

[@mrjives9045]

I wouldn't pay too much attention to what the Monthly Film Bulletin had to say about this type of film, they were consistently negative about all of em!!

[@russellhunter8378]

Got this on dvd, it's labelled as a comedy but I would say that it's more of a drama with some comedy inserted(pun not intended). I like British films from this era, they weren't afraid to explore different themes and lifestyles. Cool it, Carol starring Robin Askwith and made about the same time is also worth a watch and is loosely based on a true story apparently.

[@tonysinger]

Great soundtrack from the Kinks

[@markbarker8034]

I must admit i`d never heard of this film until watching this vid.

[@paulbuckland132]

Went to see this at the cinema .... with my mum !!!

[@tonyjeevar6565]

Anyone who thinks people in the seventies weren't upset by this sort of humour need to find out about Mary Whitehouse. There was an army of outraged women who got their knee length bloomers in a twist every time a new Carry On or Confessions film came out. They didn't have an internet to vent their fury. But they would picket cinemas. Humour changes with every generation, and we have three generations at any one time. Of course there will be arguments.

[@VLC8792]

I know this film. The Kinks did the sound track & I’ve still got the album.

[@stuartherkes9990]

It's weird that the sequel Percy's Progress (1974) was released on Blu ray but not this. I've seen Percy's Progress ( It had Vincent Price In it) but I've never seen this.

[@mingwall2009]

Saw this in 1971 with my new girlfriend, who has been my wife for 49 years. It didn't put her off

[@neilcarpenter2669]

I'm not sure what it says about me but I want to watch it .

[@Nigel-xp4rf]

Never heard of it, well seeing as I knew who was in it, and more or less what it was about, but handy to see again and remind me, and having seen it on the earliest days of Ch 5 (in the UK), no can't say I had never heard of it, just got me wondering how I could get a copy of it as my local HMV has moved out of the area 😢

[@raymondbonington9355]

Got the soundtrack by the kinks .

[@stewartdavies929]

Percy’s Progress?

[@securityrobot]

Then there was Percy’s Progress.

[@highlightoftheday7058]

This was the staple of new wave British sex comedies of the 70's. The ''Confessions of a ...''. were quite a big draw at that time. I was 11 years old when this came out, but I was getting into see X cert films a few years before leaving school. But those were kung fu films that were quite big at the time. But I remember some of the sex comedies of the day. The occasional one that would be part of the double bill (Two films shown back to back which was the norm then). I loved my cinema days back then.

[@Robert-wn2cw]

I'm sure that I've seen this at some point.

[@terryburns184]

Australia did its own version ( kind of) with Alvin Purple 1973 about a nerdy guy who is totally irresistible to women

[@99672]

It made money, and the viewers LIKED it. Something that today's woke films can't say.

[@charlybeagrie1119]

I have heard of it, but them I am old. Haven't seen the film but I read the book.

[@JAY-lo3sx]

I was never that fond of Howell Bennett. But I was young when Shelley Was on the Tv but I prefer his brother Alan Lewis from birth of the father.

[@Paul-h9f5w]

I saw it at the cinema in 73 or 74. Very forgettable really. Doubt it made that much money. I am a big fan of Hywell benett from the classic twisted nerve and also Family Way which he co-starred in both alongside Hayley Mills. I also liked tye sitcom

[@vincentbrowne8639]

Saw this as a supporting flick a few years after it was released- absolute dross- Bennett was a good looking young guy (so I'm told ) but when I saw him in early 2000's he was obese,really let himself go

[@monkeymanbob]

This, and other British sex comedies, used to be on Men & Motors on constant rotation. They are all awful from what I can recall. The one value they have is as a Who's Who of well known British actors who would become well known for their roles in tv soaps and comedies. The only one that I ever had any inkling for was Stand Up Virgin Soldiers - though I'm not sure a repeat viewing would strengthen that feeling - though it did feature the mum of the Bisto advert and Mrs Billy Connelly before she starred in Not the Nine O'Clock News.

[@exitthelemming145]

I only know of the movie because Ray Davies of the Kinks wrote the soundtrack (which mostly sucked) That said, God's Children, Moments and the Way Love Used to Be are all gems.

[@markhilbert6573]

Have I seen it. Well I normally point percy at the porcelain

[@liamoconnor2429]

I've not only heard of it, I've seen it.

[@highlightoftheday7058]

This was the staple of new wave British sex comedies of the 70's. The ''Confessions of a ...''. were quite a big draw at that time. I was 11 years old when this came out, but I was getting into see X cert films a few years before leaving school. But those were kung fu films that were quite big at the time. But I remember some of the sex comedies of the day. The occasional one that would be part of the double bill (Two films shown back to back which was the norm then). I loved my cinema days back then.