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Two and Two Make Six
Two and Two Make Six (also known as A Change of Heart and The Girl Swappers) is a 1962 black and white British romantic comedy film directed by Freddie Francis and starring George Chakiris and Janette Scott.[2] PlotAmerican serviceman Larry is serving in England when he goes absent without leave. After accidentally knocking out a sergeant sent to arrest him he goes on the run with a girl, Julie, riding a motorcycle around rural England. At a transport cafe, due to parallel bikes and leathers as seen from the back, she gets on the pillion of the wrong motorcycle (that of Tom Bennett), and her counterpart Irene gets on Larry's bike. Both girls realise their mistake ten minutes later. Both couples return to the cafe to resolve it. Tom is ridiculed at the counter. Larry returns but speeds off when he sees a police car. One couple go to Sevenhills and one to Westport. Tom heads to his Aunt Phoebe, who runs a college for young ladies in Sevenhills. Aunt Phoebe is immediately confused and thinks a love triangle is on the cards, but she treats Tom and Julie with great kindness. Larry takes Irene to a hotel, but they are suspicious and refuse to give him a room. Eventually Ted, a barman, gives them a tip of a hotel which will take them. The night porter is surprised when they ask for two rooms rather than one. Julie appears in Tom's bedroom in her pyjamas and they chat. He is very shy but she kisses him. Larry heads to the docks to organise an illicit passage out of the country but his cash is in Sevenhills. He goes back to Irene's hotel room and tells her the whole story. She is sleeping nude but is very prim and polite. The next day she buys a new dress and heads to locate Sevenhills Ladies College and Aunt Phoebe. Meanwhile Julie goes clothes shopping, using some of Larry's money that he had left with her. Back at the college she treats Tom to a view of her in a basque. Larry appears at the door and a fight between the men ensues. Irene tells Larry that she loves him. She materialises at the US Army HQ as Larry gives himself up. She claims to be pregnant by Larry (untrue) in order to lessen his court martial sentence. We jump to both girls pushing prams. Cast
ProductionIt was based on an idea of a producer after he saw two people out riding.[3] Freddie Francis later recalled:
ReceptionBox officeThe film received poor reviews and recorded a loss of £53,000.[1]: 14 CriticalThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "For a film aimed at the teenage and family audience, this is a rather gauche and – despite the way it sports crash-helmets and black jackets – dated little romantic comedy. The notion of mistaken identity arising from the wearing of identical motor-bike gear is quite clever, but the plot clsewhere is even more far-fetched in detail and predictable in development, while Freddie Francis's direction lacks the necessary lift and confidence. This weakness of material and handling inclines George Chakiris to labour the pace, but Janette Scott and Alfred Lynch are touching as Irene and the naive Tom, and Athene Seyler enjoys herself greatly as the irrepressible, anti-Square, Aunt Phoebe. It is the cast, in fact, which enables the film to be indulgently enjoyed."[5] The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 2/5 stars, writing: "Ace cinematographer Freddie Francis made his directorial debut with this trifle about a US Air Force deserter who rides off on his motorbike and falls in love with his pillion passenger. ...Francis seemed happier with later horror fare and eventually went back behind the camera for such movies as The Elephant Man."[6] Leslie Halliwell said: "Reasonably fresh little romantic comedy."[7] References
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