No Sex Please, We're British (film)

In The Monthly Film Bulletin John Gillett wrote: "Cliff Owen directs at a frenetic pace throughout, with everyone charging through doors and shouting madly. He occasionally mines some genuine comedy from the sheer pile-up of incident; but the material finally defeats him, and even the climactic car chase turns out a very flat set-piece. The actors do their British best to keep the laughs coming, with Ronnie Corbett working hard in his characteristic stuttering style, while Arthur Lowe turns in a neat and unexaggerated portrait of the glowering bank manager and Michael Bates provides a sharp cameo as a much put-upon bank inspector. "^[3]

Writing in 1979, at the time of the American release, The New York Times reviewer commented: "In its own way, it is well done ... (with) its simple-minded and by now rather outdated double and triple entendres."^[4]

In The Radio Times Guide to Films Tony Sloman gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "One of the West End's longest running comic farces arrived on the screen virtually intact, but with a significantly different leading man. Whereas Michael Crawford had consolidated both career and image by instigating the gawky, inadvertent gauche lead on stage, in the film the role went to the diminutive British comedian Ronnie Corbett. Corbett does well by the hackneyed plot, and underrated director Cliff Owen keeps up the pace."^[5]

TV Guide said: "A pleasing performance from Corbett ... saves this otherwise average British farce from the usual doldrums."^[6]

• No Sex Please, We're British at British Comedy Guide
• No Sex Please, We're British at IMDb