Review of Make Mine Mink

Introduction

Another of the discs released in the Terry-Thomas collection, Make Mine Mink promised to be another classic comedy. You know with the description of Terry-Thomas as a cad and bounder, my expectations get a little warped and I end up with an image of Dick Dastardly in my mind. How untrue that is. Watching Make Mine Mink and having seen The Naked Truth previously, it`s apparent that Terry Thomas` talent was prodigious and the roles he played were varied and interesting and the films he made were invariably classics. Make Mine Mink is a brilliant example of this.

Lily is an ex-convict, who through the graces of Dame Beatrice has gained employment as a maid and is well on her way to finding her place in society. Of course she is exceptionally grateful for the opportunity that she has been given and wishes to repay her benevolent employer. Such circumstances arise when she overhears Dame Beatrice lament the poor state of her fur, and the neighbour coincidentally `discards` a new fur. Lily slips momentarily and purloins the stole for her employer. When Dame Beatrice learns of this, she is naturally disappointed, and after giving a stern lecture to Lily, she tries to find a way to return the filched fur leaving her neighbours unaware of the theft. Dame Beatrice enlists the aid of her lodgers to do this and with the aid of the retired Major Rayne, the etiquette instructor, Nannette Parry and the dubious help of the eccentric Pinkie, they carry out a plan of military complexity. Realising that they have some degree of talent in this and Dame Beatrice wishing to accomplish her charity work more effectively, they resolve to use their talents to this effect and thus begins a crime wave of unprecedented proportions as these modern day Robin Hoods lift every fur coat in sight.

Video

I was very impressed by the quality of the transfer and the degree of restoration done to the film. Presented in the original monochrome 4:3 ratio, the image is sharp, boasting strong contrast. There is no sign of age at all, no blemishes, scratches or dirt. The film may just as well have been released yesterday. The picture did seem a little soft in a couple of places, other than that, this is a stunning transfer and Carlton should be commended for the effort put into the disc.

Audio

Sound is the simple mono track transferred to a DD 2.0 format. It`s perfectly functional and completely applicable to a British comedy made in 1960. The music is nice and jaunty, complementing the story well.

Features

A nice animated menu lists the audio and subtitle options, chapter breaks and a rather nice trailer.

Conclusion

Another classic comedy makes it`s way to DVD and is all the better for the transition. It`s truly an ensemble cast even though Terry-Thomas gets top billing. He plays the arrogant retired Major Rayne and it`s another noteworthy role, as he becomes the criminal mastermind behind the gang`s plans. He is restrained by the military demeanour of the character, but the cad doesn`t lurk far behind as his larcenous streak becomes more apparent. Athene Seyler plays the rather dotty Dame Beatrice who motivated by her charitable intentions will go to any length to help needy orphans anywhere. Hattie Jacques plays Nannette Parry with an almost caricatured masculinity. She is definitely one of those women who spent more time with her horse than in human company while growing up. Elspeth Duxbury is a pure joy to watch as the deliciously batty Pinkie. Her flightiness and nervous demeanour makes for an irresistible character. She idolises the major and wishes to be a part of his plans to impress him, but it`s a admiration that isn`t reciprocated and Terry-Thomas delivers some choice lines with his characteristic cutting wit. Billie Whitelaw is splendid as Lily, the maid who sparks off this crime wave by her ill-considered action. But the roles reverse as she learns of her employer`s activities. There are some notable cameos, particularly by Kenneth Williams and Irene Handl.

Make Mine Mink is a film that would never be made today, simply because of it`s very un-PC subject matter. Let`s face it; this film definitely isn`t fur friendly. It starts with a poorly animated rodent proclaiming, "What do you think? I`m a mink!" That is the worst moment of the film. Despite the subject matter, it is funny from beginning to end though as the unconventional criminals bungle their ways from one heist to another. The pace is spot on and the script excellent. There were many times that I didn`t see certain laughs coming and laughed even more because of the surprise. The picture quality on this disc is exceptional and is just one more reason to recommend it. If you are tired of todays gross out comedies, or in your face humour then this gem of a comedy is a breath of fresh air. Put aside any prejudices about black and white because this film is well worth a watch.