DON'T RAISE THE BRIDGE, LOWER THE RIVER (1967) **1/2 Saw this on a double-bill with The Big Mouth , made the same year, and they're basically indistinguishable. There's a different plot, and this one's supposed to be in London, but maybe no film comparison so surely demonstrates that plot, locale and supporting cast are the merest of trifles. That being said, I like this one a little bit better. Jerry plays into '60s comedic silliness mode successfully enough, but all that madwhackiness is clearly a mere downshift from what he invented. It's him playing to those who get most of him, with gratitude but not the fullest measure of élan. Supporting cast is better here: Terry-Thomas playing his character and tangents to Jerry but as always with an eye on all of the action, and Patricia Routledge in an early Girl Scout leaderish reading of what would become the glory of Hyacinth Bucket on "Keeping Up Appearances." The diction never changed, you can hear her saying "candle light dinner" every two seconds even though she's always articulating something else. Lots of foils, but plenty of room for Jerry.
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