Through song and dance, funny bits, and sheer wit this comedy brings Peter Sellers and his troop from the British radio show "The Goon Show" together to spoof World War II espionage. From Amazon Although they made their name in the medium of radio, the legendary Goons also made brief forays into the world of television and, with Down Among the Z Men, film. Z Men captures the team at a very early stage in their career, with Michael Bentine still in the fold, and with their unique, anarchic brand of humor still in its infancy. Sadly, the style and feel of the film does little to suit their comedy style. While radio offered an opportunity for their imaginations to run wild, here the four find themselves tied to a few stock characters, most of whom would make more animated appearances later in their career. The plot--with its tale of eccentric professors and evil spies--sees a series of musical numbers and a variety performance crowbarred into the proceedings. Those who wish to add to an already existing Goons collection may want to consider this, but anyone wondering what all the fuss is about should look to one of the radio collections to hear the sound of true genius at work. --Phil Udell A Review The Goons deserved better Anyone who's heard the Goon Shows knows they were masters of absurdist comedy, and this film sadly contains little of that quality. The four Goons take on a single character from the Goon Show's plethora of characters for "Down Among The Z-Men". The plot is pretty meager, concerning two thieves who want to steal an atomic formula from Michael Bentine. Harry Secombe plays a store clerk who accidentally winds up in the army, where Spike Milligan plays numbskull Private Eccles and Peter Sellars is General Bloodnok. The Channel Four Film Review For those who know the Goons as a phenomenon fondly recalled by Prince Charles, this short feature might seem both odd and inexplicable. It's the only film in which the famous four appeared together (Bentine was missing from the 1951 Penny Points to Paradise) and as a piece of movie-making it's as dire as one would expect from an E J Fancey production, directed by Maclean Rogers. Secombe stars in the semi-straight role as a gormless shop assistant, Harry Jones, who turns amateur sleuth when a vague professor (Bentine) loses a secret atomic formula. At a nearby Army camp Jones is mistaken for a draftee (a Z man) and ends up at the mercy of the hysterical Private Eccles (Milligan), doing basic training. Colonel Bloodnock (Sellers) ostensibly runs the camp but chaos erupts, until a female MI5 officer (Carr) helps out. There are lots of funny voices, action and song-and-dance routines. Innocent stuff. Cast: Harry Secombe .... Harry Jones Eunice Gayson Graham Stark Another Review The Goon show movie is a curiosity. Goon show and/or Peter Sellers fans will want to have it. Others might be disapointed. It is not very long. (Only 1 hour 7 minutes.) It is quite dated. A paper-thin plot padded out with non-Goon dance numbers and songs. There is a stage show whos only point seems to be to show off Peter Sellers and the dancing girls. Down Among the Z Men(1952) Grocer gets involved with secret agents. | ||
