{{Short description|1962 British film by Anthony Kimmins}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Use British English|date=September 2021}} {{Infobox film |name = The Amorous Prawn |image = Amoprpos.jpg |caption = Original film poster |director = Anthony Kimmins |producer = Leslie Gilliat |writer = Anthony Kimmins (play and screenplay)<br>Nicholas Phipps |starring = Ian Carmichael<br>Joan Greenwood<br>Cecil Parker |music = John Barry |cinematography = Wilkie Cooper |editing = Thelma Connell |studio = Covent Garden Films |distributor = British Lion Films |released = {{Film date|df=yes|1962|11|26|UK}} |runtime = 89 minutes |country = United Kingdom |language = English }}
'''''The Amorous Prawn''''', also known as '''''The Amorous Mr. Prawn''''', is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring Ian Carmichael, Joan Greenwood, and Cecil Parker.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=The Amorous Prawn |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150063357 |access-date=5 January 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> The film was based on a 1959 farcical play by Kimmins.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/4fv/the-amorous-prawn/production/jzk|title=Production of The Amorous Prawn - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com|accessdate=5 September 2021}}</ref>
In the United States, the film was retitled ''The Playgirl and the War Minister'' to exploit the Profumo affair.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67282/the-playgirl-and-the-war-minister#overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928032015/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/67282/The-Playgirl-and-the-War-Minister/#overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 September 2011|title=The Playgirl and the War Minister (1963) - Overview|website=Turner Classic Movies|accessdate=5 September 2021}}</ref>
==Premise== General Fitzadam receives his final posting in the remote Scottish Highlands. When the general and his wife discover that they cannot afford the country cottage where they plan to retire, his wife decides to run their residence as a hotel for wealthy Americans using the services of soldiers and an expert poacher.
==Cast== {{Cast listing| *Ian Carmichael as Corporal Sidney Green *Joan Greenwood as Lady Dodo Fitzadam *Cecil Parker as General Sir Hamish Fitzadam *Dennis Price as Prawn (Mr Vernon) *Robert Beatty as Larry Hoffman *Liz Fraser as Private Suzie Tidmarsh *Finlay Currie as Lochaye *Robert Nichols as Sam Goulansky *Bridget Armstrong as Private Biddy O'Hara *Harry Locke as Albert Huggin *Derek Nimmo as Private Willie Maltravers *Roddy McMillan as Private McTavish *Sandra Dorne as Busty Babs *Michael Ripper as Angus *Roberta Desti as jeweller's assistant *Patrick Jordan as sergeant at guard *Godfrey James as sergeant at exchange *Gerald Sim as first telephone operator *Geoffrey Bayldon as second telephone operator *Eric Woodburn as publican *John Dunbar as 1st pub customer *Jack Stewart as second pub customer *Drew Russell as airman *Eric Francis as Jimmy, the policeman *Michael Hunt as RAF sergeant *Reg Lye as Uncle Joe (the poacher) }}
==Production== The original play had run for over 900 performances in the West End.<ref>{{cite news|title=Film Activities Along The Thames|author=Stephen Watts |newspaper=The New York Times|date=25 March 1962}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=This Charming Man: The Life of Ian Carmichael|first=Robert|last=Fairclough|date=22 September 2011|publisher=Aurum Press|page=160|isbn=9781845137380}}</ref>
==Critical reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "A pair of amorous prawns and their progeny processing behind the credit titles set the note of good, clean fun on which this inoffensive farce means to continue. In spite of a hoary formula and a slow start, the film has its amusing moments. The settings are easy on the eye, and some of the acting, especially Cecil Parker's suddenly benign air of conspiracy and Liz Fraser's imbecilic giggle, has charm. The climax, effectively tying up more loose ends than previously seemed to exist, is a glorious romp."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1962 |title=The Amorous Prawn |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305830419 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=29 |issue=336 |pages=169 |id={{ProQuest|1305830419}} }}</ref>
''Variety'' called the film "non-demanding light entertainment, cheerfully put over by a reliable cast of popular British thesps."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/1961/film/reviews/the-amorous-prawn-1200420086/|title=The Amorous Prawn|date=1 January 1962|magazine=Variety}}</ref>
''The Radio Times Guide to Films'' gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Director Anthony Kimmins also wrote the play on which this is based and he hasn't really opened it out too much for the cinema. As a result, the talents of lan Carmichael are given little room."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Radio Times Guide to Films |publisher=Immediate Media Company |year=2017 |isbn=9780992936440 |edition=18th |location=London |pages=36}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0055746}}
{{Anthony Kimmins}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Amorous Prawn, The}} Category:1962 comedy films Category:British comedy films Category:Films directed by Anthony Kimmins Category:British films based on plays Category:Military comedy films Category:Films scored by John Barry (composer) Category:1962 English-language films Category:1962 British films Category:English-language comedy films {{1960s-UK-comedy-film-stub}}