Solemplex To me, this movie is perfection.

Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Executscan Expected more

StyleSk8r At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

Dalbert Pringle Attention, All You Carnally-Curious Viewers! - If you want the "knack" and seriously wanna know "how to get it" - Then steer clear of this quirky, off-the-wall, 1965, comedy - 'Cause it's sure to leave your head spinning, as you find yourself even more clueless than you already are.If nothing else - "The Knack" (directed by American film-maker, Richard Lester) is (movie-wise) historically significant in that it is sandwiched in between 2 of Lester's more notable pictures - "A Hard Day's Night" and "Help!", which, of course, starred the Beatles.Even though "The Knack" (which was set in London and filmed in b&w) is a pretty silly and scatterbrained tale about the lustful pursuit for sexual conquests - It certainly did have its interesting and entertaining moments.And, yes - With "The Knack" now being 52 years old - It is, indeed, dated - But still definitely worth a view. Yet - With that said - I do caution you, that its decidedly-eccentric brand of humour isn't gonna appeal to everyone.

bobc-5 A steady stream of very attractive and nearly identical manikins come to life and march starry-eyed around the block and up the stairs to a flat where they briefly meet the object of their desire before dutifully signing his guest book on the way out. The man they came to see is the suave Lothario who will try to mentor the socially awkward teacher living downstairs in the "knack" of seducing women. As so often happens in situations like this, they will eventually end up competing for the affections of the same intriguing ingénue.This may sound like an overused cliché likely to result in a formulaic romantic comedy, but director Richard Lester gives us something very different as he presents the story through a combination of exaggerated caricatures, fantasy sequences and zany metaphors. The result is that we are not so much interested in the details of the story as we are in the fun we have reaching the inevitable conclusion and the social commentary we encounter along the way. Created in 1965, Lester makes a hefty contribution to the creation of a frenetic visual style of comedy which will be imitated with great commercial success throughout the rest of the decade (think "Laugh-In"). With its mod styling, rapid-fire editing, non sequiturs and wacky antics, Lester effectively uses this style to provide some wickedly clever parody of early 1960s sexism, conformity and consumerism.The film is unfortunately not without some serious flaws. The comic style which may have seemed fresh and exciting at the time has not aged well. The good-natured mood of the film robs the social commentary of any punch or staying power, as does the failure to integrate it into a unifying framework. Also, the four main characters may be wonderfully portrayed with excellent comic acting, but only one of them is scripted such that he ever becomes human enough for us to care what happens to him, something which is essential in a story that is entirely about the relationships between the main characters.One may find this to be a very enjoyable and memorable film in spite of these flaws, but it clearly requires that you recognize how to accept what it attempts to offer rather than criticizing it for what it doesn't deliver. I'd also think that it's a valuable film for anyone interested in the 1960s mass media image of a mostly mythical swinging London and in the trends influencing popular entertainment during that time period.

ianlouisiana Let's get one thing straight ; for the vast majority of Londoners the so - called "Swinging Sixties" happened to somebody else,somewhere else.A few streets in the West End were a magnet for the rich children of the Chelsea Set who were determined to outdo the excesses of their parents as a perverted form of noblesse oblige.They were prepared to wear any clothes,no matter how outrageous,take any drug,no matter how dangerous,and embrace any music,no matter how pretentious.The more badly they behaved the more they attracted the attention of the opinion makers in the media,and the opinion makers looked upon their works and decided that they were a "Good Thing".Thus was born the myth of Swinging London;in truth an area of a few hundred square yards near "Liberty" where mummy did her shopping. Anne Jellicoe's play "The Knack" was adapted by Dick Lester,the Boswell of Swinging London.Mr Ray Brooks plays Tolen,a young man who has a way with the ladies.Mr Michael Crawford plays his chum who wishes to emulate him. Miss Rita Tushingham plays a young girl who falls under Tolen's spell. Set in a distinctly unswinging Victorian Terrace "The Knack" is an outstanding example of overblown self-indulgence.Not one of the leading characters is sympathetic,the dialogue is shockingly bad,the gags Goon Show rejects.Everyone involved seems to think they're in a clever witty movie,but I'm afraid they're labouring under a delusion.They are in fact involved in a clever - clever movie. I found the "comic" voice -overs and sub-titles tedious in the extreme. Endless bleached out shots of girls in mini skirts,Mr Brooks in black leather riding an Ariel Arrow (surely the least swinging motor cycle ever built) and Mr Crawford's tight trousers merely induced boredom. Eventually the whole swinging sixties/swinging London thing faded quietly away. Most ordinary Londoners noticed its departure about as much as they had noticed its arrival.Films like "The Knack" and "Georgy Girl","Blow up" and "Darling" that helped fuel the myth now seem like curios,their true value merely historical. If you're not old enough to know what it was really like in the 1960s "A kind of loving" will give you a much more honest picture. If you want to see what mods vs rockers was really about watch "Quadrophenia". If you want to see blokes dressed like Tolen but not inhabiting a fantasy world watch "The Leather Boys". If you want to be irritated beyond measure by a film full of smug self-regard watch "The Knack".

andyetris This is a manic Richard Lester comedy very similar to "A Hard Days Night," and if you liked that movie you'll like this one. It's a somewhat rambling froth-of-life tale about an awkward young man (Michael Crawford) who wants to learn how to pick up girls from his popular housemate (Ray Brooks). Brooks' attempt to instruct Crawford in the mysteries of the knack go hilariously awry when the pair encounter the flighty Rita Tushingham.I'm a little surprised that this won a Palme d'Or, but it IS very funny in a not-too over-the-top way. It's dramatically superior to contemporary early '60's comedy, and the principals turn in wonderful performances. If you like it, be sure to check out Lester's sunny nonsense "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and the distinctly darker "How I Won the War."