Lord Rix was a beloved colleague and friend to so many people with a learning disability and their families," Mencap chief executive Jan Tregelles said. "His passion, zeal and humour will be sorely missed. His tireless campaigning has perhaps done more to improve the lives of people with a learning disability than any other." Only with a legal euthanasia bill will the many people who find themselves in the same situation as me be able to slip away peacefully in their sleep instead of dreading the night." One of the standout performances in the film is by Dora Bryan, who plays Mrs. Dora Crump, the gossip of the village. She is an accomplished comic actress and her portrayal of the nosy and pushy busybody is spot on. She steals every scene she is in, and her interactions with the other characters are some of the most amusing moments of the film. COMMENT: Freely adapted from the stage play, "The Love Birds", by Basil Thomas, this British farce boasts an excellent cast of guaranteed-to-please comedians, including a delightful study by Kynaston Reeves of a deaf J.P. and another by John Le Mesurier (pronounced "Messer-ra"_ as his harassed clerk.

Rix, who is perhaps still best known for his roles as crooked bookies or harassed civil servants, was married for 64 years to actor and fellow campaigner Elspet Gray, who died in 2013. They appeared together on stage and screen several times during their long marriage. The decision is easy. Achievement difficult. Until Bertie tangles with the law, and Mr. Warre-Monger, J.P., dispatches the parrot to the RSPCA. But there's still no honeymoon prospect for Bertie yet, because Wolfie Green has discovered he's been returned a fake substitute for the antique four-poster he sent in to Cecil for restoration. Furthermore, he's unwittingly sold the fake on - to Mr. Warre-Monger! The only hope for Bertie is to rescue the original bed from its new owner - the headmistress of a girls' school, he eventually discovers - and switch it with Mr. Warre-Monger's. For Bertie it's a nightmare operation! Meanwhile, the local gossip, Mrs. Dora Crump (Dora Bryan), has gotten wind of the Captain's financial troubles and is spreading rumors throughout the village. She is convinced that he is about to lose the estate and is doing everything in her power to make it happen. However, things take a surprising turn when she discovers the truth behind the Captain's plan to sell the rare bird. It’s a set-up of craft and graft. ‘Chippendale Charlie’ forges the antiques; Cecil Gibson flogs ’em. There’s only one flaw in the fiddle: they’ve no-one to shoulder the blame if things go wrong. No-one, that is, until gormless Bertie, the perfect idiot, joins the firm…

The Night We Got The Bird trivia

When unscrupulous Brighton antiques dealer Cecil Gibson (Ronald Shiner) dies in a road accident, his widow Julie (Dora Bryan) remarries, and her new husband Bertie (Brian Rix) was Cecil's innocent but naive business partner. One of their wedding presents, from an unknown source, is a mouthy South American parrot, which appears to be a reincarnated Cecil whose aim is to make married life difficult for Bertie. As Bertie and Julie go off on their honeymoon, they are chased by a gangster because of a fake antique bed that the late Cecil substituted for the real thing which he then sold for a profit. [5] Cast [ edit ]

A host of British comedy luminaries – including veteran farceur Sir Brian Rix and, in his last film role, actor and stand-up comedian Ronald Shiner – star in this good-natured comic caper charting the misadventures of a hapless bunch of Brighton-based petty crooks dogged by disaster at every turn. The Night We Got the Bird is presented here in a brand-new transfer from the original film elements in its as-exhibited theatrical aspect ratio. They began to take an active interest in the problems faced by people with learning disabilities when their daughter Shelley, the eldest of four, was born with Down's syndrome in 1951. At the time the condition was still referred to as mongolism and there was little support on offer. Rix became involved with Mencap (then the National Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults) to try to change this.Lord Rix, who was the president of Mencap since 1980, was also the entertainer behind a hit run of Whitehall farces in London in the 1950s and 1960s. It might have been a deliriously happy honeymoon. But a beady-eyed parrot - a wedding gift from an anonymous well-wisher - pole-axes Bertie by speaking to him during the reception. In the late Cecil's voice! Rix announced in 2016 that he was terminally ill and called for the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia for those dying in severe pain. In the meantime, what's happened to the parrot? Among the objects orbiting in space is one that doesn't give out the familiar "bleep-bleep", just a raucous screech. But Bertie's not squawking - he's off on his honeymoon! Additional details UK certificate A Duration 82 minutes UK release November 1960 Distributors

Bertie's amazed - and horrified. His behaviour produces raised eyebrows from Julie's family, and an ultimatum from the doctor. It's bed for Bertie and a wedding night alone for poor Julie! The skids are under Bertie. His new in-laws think he's mad. The honeymoon is off. The flaming parrot, he decides, will have to go. Offstage, aside from his charitable work, Rix chaired the Arts Council of Great Britain's drama panel from 1986 to 1993 and was responsible for opening up grant funding for a wider mix of performers, more involvement for women and more funding for ethnic minority theatre companies. The actor, who was born in east Yorkshire, first found acting work at the age of 18 with Donald Wolfit's Royal Shakespeare Company while on deferred service from the Royal Air Force. Only a few months later, he played Sebastian in Twelfth Night in the West End. When his military deferment was extended, he gained more regular stage experience with the White Rose Players in Harrogate. After serving in the RAF, he ended up as a volunteer Bevin Boy, working in Doncaster's coal mines.One-off TV comedies put on by Rix regularly drew audiences of 15 million or more, but few recordings survive. The actor was made a life peer in 1992. His daughter Shelley died in 2005. His sons are Jonathan and Jamie, a producer and a children's author. His surviving daughter is actor Louisa Rix, with whom he presented Let's Go for the BBC in the late 1970s and early 80s. It was the first television programme designed for people with a learning disability. The title references a phrase in British English with its origin in the world of 19th century theatre, where it was customary to hiss like a goose to express disapproval. [3] [4] Plot [ edit ]

It's a set-up of craft and graft. 'Chippendale Charlie' forges the antiques. Cecil Gibson flogs 'em. There's only one flaw in the fiddle: they've no-one to carry the can if things go wrong. Until Bertie Skidmore joins the firm... Unhappily, my body seems to be constructed in such a way that it keeps me alive in great discomfort when all I want is to be allowed to slip into a sleep, peacefully, legally, and without any threat to the medical or nursing profession," he said in a letter that attempted to explain to his fellow peers in the House of Lords why he no longer opposed assisted dying legislation. Throughout the film, the characters are constantly getting themselves into precarious situations, both comical and absurd. This is particularly true for Captain Ambrose, who is constantly trying to keep his cool and maintain his dignity, even as the chaos around him continues to escalate. His loyal servants are always trying to help, but they only seem to make things worse, leading to a brilliant and hilarious climax that will leave you in stitches. Another notable performance is by Ronald Shiner, who plays the Captain's butler, Harold. He is a classic British comedy actor and his portrayal of the bumbling, yet lovable servant is perfect. He provides a lot of the physical comedy in the film and his timing is impeccable. Produced by Darcy Conyers and Brian Rix. A Rix-Conyers Production. Filmed at Shepperton Studios. No U.S. theatrical release. U.K. release through British Lion: 12 February 1961. Australian release through British Empire Films: 25 August 1961. 7,349 feet. 82 minutes. Cut by the Australian censor by approximately 92 seconds.

The film was made at Shepperton Studios, Surrey, England, and on location. A collection of then-and-now location stills and corresponding contemporary photographs is hosted at reelstreets.com. [6] Critical reception [ edit ] The Night We Got the Bird is a charming comedy written by John Chapman, which was released in 1961. The film stars Brian Rix, Dora Bryan, and Ronald Shiner, who are all well-known British actors of their time. This movie is a delightful and hilarious romp that will have you laughing from beginning to end. The storyline is set in a small English village where Captain William Horatio Ambrose (Brian Rix) is on the brink of financial ruin. He has just taken over the failing Ambrose estate and is in desperate need of money to make it profitable again. Fortunately, he has just acquired a rare and valuable bird, a Cerulean Paradise Flycatcher, which he plans to sell at a local auction to raise the necessary funds. The movie is directed by Darcy Conyers, who does an excellent job of keeping the pace brisk and the humor constant. He is able to balance the absurdity of the situations with the sincerity of the characters, resulting in a comedy that is both hilarious and heartwarming. Bertie's the perfect idiot. He's so gormless that when he discovers he's sold a fake antique he rushes after the customer, Wolfie Green, to confess. Cecil is horrified, jumps into the van alongside Bertie, grabs the steering-wheel - and crunches into a steam-roller.