Double Bunk

Plot

When newlyweds Jack (Ian Carmichael) and Peggy (Janette Scott) face eviction from their rented London flat, they are tricked into buying a rundown houseboat by its current owner Alfred Harper (Reginald Beckwith) and his put-upon wife (Irene Handl). Mr Watson (Dennis Price) owns Jack and Peggy’s mooring and soon makes their acquaintance by introducing them to his mooring tariffs and associated surcharges.

After rebuilding the engine with the help of his friend Sid (Sid James), a used-car salesman, Jack and Peggy plan a trip down the Thames River to Ramsgate, taking along Sid and his partner Sandra (Liz Fraser). On their way, they get into trouble with the Thames Conservancy (Naunton Wayne) and also the river police (Terry Scott).

After Sandra's transistor radio gets misplaced next to the compass, they manage to end up in Calais. With no fuel and supplies, they have to resort to desperate actions to get themselves and their houseboat back home. This involves Sandra putting on a striptease for Watson, who also happens to be in Calais Harbour on his own boat, to enable Jack and Sid to borrow some of Watson’s fuel and food. The next morning, they follow Watson back across the Channel, as their own compass is broken, and end up entering into a wager with Watson on who can get back to their mooring first. They win the bet when Watson's boat runs aground

Background

The "Jasmine Cot" boat was actually "Joan Mary", an Admiralty 48 foot "Personnel Launch, Diesel" conversion. She was based at Newmans Shipyard, 1, Strawberry Vale, Twickenham. She was owned at the time by Mr. C Perfect. I know this because "Joan Mary" was home to me and my parents and they sold her to Mr. Perfect. Needless to say, all the tophamper was added just for the filming.

Release

The film opened at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End on 30 March 1961 and went on general release in the UK on 8 May 1961.

Cast

Critical reception