1958 British film by Val Guest
Further Up the Creek is a 1958 British comedy film written and directed by Val Guest and starring David Tomlinson, Frankie Howerd, Shirley Eaton, Thora Hird and Lionel Jeffries. It served as a follow-up to "Up the Creek" (1958), with Peter Sellers not reprising his role because it clashed with the filming of "The Mouse That Roared" (1959). Frankie Howerd replaced him.
Plot.
Navy frigate the "Aristotle" is sold to a Middle Eastern power, and against regulations the ship's bosun tries to make a profit by selling tickets to passengers seeking a luxury cruise. When the Captain discovers what is going on, he attempts to straighten things out.
Production.
Guest said "it wasn't a big success at all. Today you can do "Police Academy" 2, 3, 4, I don't think "Up the Creek" 2 was … the gag had been blown somehow."
Critical reception.
"The Monthly Film Bulletin" wrote: "Like its predecessor, "Up the Creek" [1958], this film starts with a fine comic idea which is then exploited in the least enterprising way. Only the most obvious jokes are extracted from the situation and there is a constant desperate scramble to pile absurdity on top of absurdity. In the prevailing poverty David Tomlinson and Frankie Howerd have to resort to grotesque capers to persuade themselves that they are being funny – but with only intermittent success. Shirley Eaton, acting come-hither with supreme lack of restraint, beams her way good-humouredly through a non-existent role, and only Thora Hird, with her bitter aggressiveness, can bring a dash of badly needed astringency into this rather assorted mixture of established gags."
"The Radio Times Guide to Films" gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Made in something of a hurry by director Val Guest, as he sought to cash in on the success of "Up the Creek", this sequel suffers from both indifferent plotting and the absence of Peter Sellers from the role of the scheming bosun. Exploiting the sale of his ship to the ruler of Algerocco by flogging tickets for a Mediterranean cruise, Frankie Howerd (not a natural before the movie camera) works every gag, as the floating con trick is called to action stations."
"TV Guide" wrote, "less rather than more, as most follow-ups are."