Confessions of a Driving Instructor, 1976 2x400ft colour sound

#1 by Tom Photiou , Sun Mar 26, 2023 10:19 pm

The Confessions of films were often described as the poor mans carry on films and to be honest, that does pretty much sum them up.
This was an odd title for Columbia home movies to put out among the classic titles they released at that time. Even more odd was the fact they released a second 400ft reel to make a 35 minute edition. I suppose the best way of describing these is that they are carry on films but go the extra mile and actually show the tits and bums as well as sex scenes, all done in a comical way to ensure they were classed as comedy.
Everything about them is silly but fun and appeals to my juvenile sense of humour. This particular one was ok and this edit actually makes it a much better film as pretty much all of the comedy worth watching in this film is in this edit.
The quality of the two parts is very good, clean sharp image and very good sound. One the downside, part one does have fade setting in where as, part two is still unfaded. I do find this so frustrating but all too common. While the film is hardly brain taxing, for some reason, Columbia decided it would be a good idea to put in some narration which is an attempt at adding to comedy and fails every time. Although it is very annoying, it isn't too intrusive as it only occurs a few times.

The plot, for what it's worth,
Timothy joins his brother-in-law's driving school. Their school is soon in rivalry with a competing school, while Timothy finds himself involved in erotic adventures with his clients, secretary and landlady. His clients are a mix of the inept and the dangerous and, as usual, mayhem ensues. A rugby match is organised between the two schools, at which one of the rival school's instructors unknowingly swallows a powerful aphrodisiac and rampages around the field, an event that leads to the climactic car chase.

A reasonably well edited version which is a better viewing than the full feature. As was often the case with Columbia edits, the ending is very abrupt, it does end in the correct place but there is no, "The end "title, just the usual legal warning.

I havnt seen any of the other confessions of films so I cant really compare them, but this is typical of the sort of sex comedies from the UK of the 70s, good harmless fun and full of many comedy stars of the time including Windsor Davies.

While many people poo poo this series of film, it was really popular with British audiences, although very low-budgeted as a whole, they often beat out many blockbuster films that were released at the time — much to many critics' disgust. Confessions is perhaps the most successful British sex film series of all time, and spawned several movie expies, such as the very popular Adventures of... series that was released a year after the first film, one of which was released as a 400 footer by major 8 movies, Adventures of a plumbers mate.


 
Tom Photiou
Posts: 5.568
Points: 11.025
Date registered 08.14.2015
home: Plymouth. UK
ThankYou 549


RE: Confessions of a Driving Instructor, 1976 2x400ft colour sound

#2 by Thomas Peters , Mon Mar 27, 2023 4:13 am

Never saw it, but sounds like it is worth a viewing or 2! Va va va voom!

Benny Hill was a big hit on TV over here in the states (similar type of humor as the above movie), too, and it's humor would never be called sophisticated.

Not sure what the age restrictions are/were in the U.K. but over here you needed to be 17 for R movies unless you were accompanied by an adult. At that age til about mid-20s, you're out with the guys, drinking at pubs, "hey let's see a movie!". Do you pick the latest Meryl Streep bore-fest or CONFESSIONS OF A DRIVING INSTRUCTOR?



Tom Photiou likes this
Thomas Peters  
Thomas Peters
Posts: 324
Points: 456
Date registered 08.30.2022
ThankYou 9

Last edited 03.27.2023 | Top

   

The Day of the Triffids 600ft colour sound
The Longest Yard (aka The Mean Machine) Full feature

disconnected Reel-Chat Members online 0
Xobor Create your own Forum with Xobor