DVD Review: This, That And The Other (1969)

Never judge a book by its cover (or a DVD by its sleeve) - This, That And The Other looks like a typical Stanley Long / Derek Ford exploitation flick, but the end result is very different. In fact, it's probably the strangest movie I've seen in a long, long time. Oh yes - it's also got a soundtrack by lost psych/pop band Scrugg. Nice.

This Odeon reissue is being pitched as a Dennis Waterman vehicle, the ex-Sweeney and Minder man on the front in his best 60s clobber. But Waterman only appears in one segment of this three-part compendium - and it's also the weakest of a movie that goes from cheesy wannabe sex comedy to mad psychedelic dreamworld in the space of 78 minutes.

Like I said, Waterman or not, it doesn't start off strong, an intro that uses stock airport footage is saved by that Scrugg soundtrack, taking us into a film director's casting - where he's asking a buxon actress if she can play a 'Mrs Robinson' seduction role. He's not convinced and asks her to come back later. The director also mentions that the photographic kit in the place belongs to his young son, so when she sees a 'suited' teen walking down the stairs with the gear (Dennis Waterman), she presumes he's the son. Which leads to an over-long photography session in her room as Waterman does the full 'Blow-Up' thing, before she seduces him into bed. After their escapades, she drags Waterman back to the director, so he can tell his 'father' about the seduction. Of course, our Dennis is just the local shop worker - but she still gets the acting role. Like I said, average 60s sex-com stuff and in isolation, not worth getting excited about.

But wait...things are about to get a whole lot better.

The next segment takes us to a central London mews apartment owned by George (Victor Spinetti). He's alone and lonely - and he's about to gas himself until...the phone rings. A voice tells him 'Claudia' is heading round there for a party. Minutes later someone (not Claudia) turns up with a bottle. She's followed by many more (including Alexandra Bastedo of The Champions and a particularly stern mod-like bloke in a suit) for a late 60s-style rave-up, poor George trying his best to fit in, pitching the idea that the party has a 'suicide' theme to save his blushes. When the party inveitably runs its course, they all leave, the mod in the suit particularly worse for wear and in no shape for driving. More of him later. George looks around and sees the debris of the party, realising his moments of happiness were just that. Or where they? You'll find out at the very end.

So what of the mod in his sports car? He's hit the road just as a taxi driver (John Bird) has left a cinema and gone back on duty. His first call comes in, picking up an attractive blonde (Yutte Stensgaard) and taking her to Surrey. He picks her up, fantasising about her as he goes - and while his attention is diverted by his passenger, the cabbie hits our drunk from the previous tale.

What happens after that is both bizarre and confusing. Daylight replaces darkness and his passenger runs without paying the fair. The driver goes after her, which takes him to a strange 60s-style space age house/cave in the middle of the country. Beautiful women are swimming and loitering around, people appear and disappear from sight, a strange man becomes the centre of attention, the driver is invisible, he's then the centre of attention and then the object of their hatred as he's chased through the woods by an angry mob.

Is he dead, dreaming, unconscious or just plain mad? The answer is almost explained at the end. But trust me, with its electronic backing music, surreal effects and even stranger location, this is one of the trippiest film sequences you'll see for a long time. Not what you'd expect from Long and Ford for sure.

So what do I make of it all? I really don't know, even having watched the thing three times. The image quality at times is rough and the sound is on the quiet side. And while the first segment is watchable, it's nothing you would be in a rush to go back to.

But the second part is really quite intriguing and entertaining, while the third part is late 60s psychedelic screen gold. Throw in those Scrugg tunes and This That And The Other becomes a fascinating period piece of the era. It's no classic and as you would expect, the whole thing is rough around the edges. But if the idea of a psych-tinged exploitation movie appeals to you, two thirds of this DVD will almost certainly be for you. Just a shame about the Waterman segment really.

Find out more about the DVD at the Amazon website

Comments

[scott m]

I agree with most of your assessment but think you're underestimating the pyschedelic quality of the first segment. The plot may be typical sex farce but the colors in this scene are amazing. In fact the entire movie glows like an electric comic book (dig Victor Spinetti's red wallpaper).
Note also Spinetti's blonde friend is Vanessa Howard.