Undercovers Hero (1974) User Reviews

Sellers everywhere, but not that you'd notice

[gainsbarre · 5/10 · 10 August 2005]

What I find interesting about this rather domestic small budget film (made at a time when Sellers's box office clout was at its lowest) is the fact that, yes Sellers plays six different characters, however the film is not saturated with him. In fact Sellers blends in remarkably to the rest of the film.

Although I wouldn't necessarily call this film a comedy, there are some funny little bits in it, its strikes me more as a delightful war-time adventure story.

In my opinion, the main focal point of this film is brothel owner Madame Grenier and her girls and their work for the French Resistance in occupied France. Sellers plays a whole host of characters around this central plot point and comes across far more as a counter-point to the action of Mme Grenier and her girls instead of screaming "Peter Sellers film Peter Selers film!" In his roles, he's also playing rather straight, not pushing for laughs, unlike his rather outrageous and dominating roles in the Pink Panther films.

All in all, this British-made film is rather domestic in feel, not a big budget, and while it's enjoyable if you happen to come across it on cable one day, but don't be prepared to be knocked out.

Brothels for Hitler and Germany means springtime for Poland and France.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 22 June 2023]

Who better to aide in the war effort than ladies of the evening, slyly gathering information for the allies so they can rid Paris of the Nazi garbage that has taken over the country. Top billed Peter Sellers is also third billed, fifth billed, etc., playing every kind of part imaginable, from Hitler himself to a Japanese prince, those two enemies of the allies, as well as several of the allies, joined by Lila Kedrova as a French madame whose plot to stop the Nazis from blowing up Paris becomes the main part of the movie, one of the oddest comedy war spoofs ever made, narrated with the aide of a very poor Richard Nixon impression.

Made between his last big hit "The Party" and the return to the "Pink Panther" movies, this was not a hit for Peter Sellers, perhaps because he didn't really do nothing more but his Inspector Clouseau characterization for half a dozen other characters and it seemed to be in bad taste at the time to parody the Nazis (even though Mel Brooks had much success doing it), just one of a number of financial failures for Sellers. I found it to be fairly amusing if not hysterical, a shell of a plot simply giving Sellers his shtick to do. Kedrova is much more interesting than Sellers, but the film keeps a steady pace even though there's hardly a plot. I found the background score to be distracting as it sounded like "Chim Chim Cheree" from "Mary Poppins".

Unfunny Sellers films

[Serpent-5 · 15 May 1999]

Peter Sellers actually gives a performance playing numerous roles in this boring unfunny farce, as he even plays a Japanese officer and speaks real Japanese language! But not even the great Peter Sellers can save this tired boring movie that fails in all gags and humor (except for the scene where the bed flips over). I could see why United Artist took two years to release this film, and the film only lasted a week in most cities. It's not on video here in America, but it's recommended to any Peter Sellers fans only. Others beware!

A forerunner to 'Allo 'Allo, and nowhere near as funny

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 6 May 2017]

SOFT BEDS, HARD BATTLES is a deeply unfunny WW2 sex comedy that makes the 1970s-era CARRY ON films look like works of comedic genius by comparison. The main problem this film has, aside from the smutty and lowbrow script, is the presence if Peter Sellers. What kind of ego drives a man to believe he can convincingly and amusingly portray no less than six of the major roles in a film? Sellers is something of an acquired taste, I've discovered, but he simply isn't very good here. The nadir of the film is the Japanese character he plays with the aid of stilted pronunciation and yellow-face makeup. I remember the defence of his similar Chinese role in MURDER BY DEATH being that he was referencing the old Hollywood films where western actors played Chinese characters, but he doesn't have that excuse here.

The rest of the film is cheap and uneventful. The story takes place in a French brothel frequently visited by British spies, Nazi officers, and various other oddball characters. Farcical comedy ensues. There are some fun character actors present here playing the stock Nazi types: Curd Jurgens, Ian McCulloch, Michael Sheard, and Richard Marner, while the British beauties playing the prostitutes include the ubiquitous Francoise Pascal, Rula Lenska, and Jenny Hanley. Lila Kedrova is a delight as the brothel madam. Overall, though, this is a far cry from the kind of quality you'd expect director Roy Boulting to bring.

If I'm being honest (and I am), this film is a tragedy.

[The_Secretive_Bus · 3/10 · 8 November 2003]

The tag line: "The film with Six Best Sellers in one!"

a) The word Best in that sentence is misleading; b) That sentence is funnier than the film itself.

"Soft Beds" is a very disjointed, rambling film set in World War 2. France is being invaded, and a local brothel seems to be getting mixed up in the conflict. A group of prostitutes, with help from a British and an American soldier, save Paris from being blown up by the Gestapo.

Well, there you have it. I don't think I'd need go on, as that sums up the whole rubbishness of the film adequately, but I think I might as well press on.

The only reason anyone may remember this film is because Peter Sellers plays six roles. However, none of them are impressive, and several are characterisations played with far better flair in his other films; the old man who is married but prefers to spend time with the young ladies was played a lot better in "Waltz of the Toreadors", whilst the Japanese man, with pidgin English, was funnier in "Murder by Death". Sellers also plays another French character who has about 3 minutes screentime and isn't worth remembering, a Gestapo leader who is neither funny nor menacing, and Adolf Hitler, there so that we can make a joke about the fact that the Fuhrer was racist. It sums up the tone of the film quite nicely. The only character played by Sellers who gets any laughs is a British officer, who has the same voice inflections as Captain Mandrake from "Strangelove", and is funny only because Sellers can say "Sod it!" in a funny way.

The film is just a long line of sketches involving prostitutes getting one over on the Nazis, with the British Sellers wandering in and out of the narrative to shoot someone. The rambling, unfunny plot, coupled with several scenes in which people die of flatulence, are the final nails in the coffin for this sorry film. In fact, the only fun one could get from this film is the fact that the cast list is chocker with actors and actresses you'll recognise from other shows (including Phillip Madoc, and good old Nick "the Brigadier in Doctor Who" Courtney, uncredited, and managing even to out-act Sellers with 3 lines). And Rula Lenska is topless in her first scene, which probably counts for something.

It's rubbish. Stay away. 3/10

Softcore porn 'Allo 'Allo

[tim-764-291856 · 2/10 · 25 January 2013]

As we saw in Dr Strangelove, Peter Sellers is extremely adept and talented at playing many roles. However, in this lame and unfunny comedy, he literally falls flat on his (many) face(s).

(For those not in UK, 'Allo, 'Allo is a long-running British family comedy series, set in a Belgian war-time town and occupied by the Germans.)

It might be due to the winds of time and the changing tastes in comedy, but as someone who would have very young at this film's release, I didn't laugh once, neither at the jokes nor the visual slapstick.

Sure, this send-up of everything second world war (Sellers plays all the world leaders, it seems) could have provided many comedy highlights but at times it's just painfully embarrassing. The dodgy accents either grate or annoy. I found the 'story' impossible to follow, assuming there actually was one and within half an hour had lost interest and only followed it to the end for reviewing purposes.

The oft nude working girls of the 1940's Paris-set brothel made this an X-certificate novelty back 40 years ago and today, the toplessness a mere '12' certificate. These are pleasant distractions for the average male viewer of course but the novelty soon wears off and soon we are amidst the awful masks that Sellers wears to turn himself 'Japanese'. Even though the film runs for 90 minutes, it seems far longer.

There's also a young-ish Timothy West as a Cardinal and Curt Jurgens as an SS Officer.

This may remain Peter Sellers' single worse film. He made some truly great ones, this is the exact opposite.

Great Sellers acting, okayish movie

[sqrt_-1 · 7/10 · 28 April 2001]

This movie is not particularly funny but it is good for Sellers fans. I am such a fan and really enjoyed his acting. Sellers plays 6 roles and his range is different than many other actors in that he portrays people from several nationalities at once very well. Although this time I think his French accent was not as good as the others. The movie itself is amusing but not great.

Shocking stuff

[co010c6650 · 1/10 · 3 October 2012]

Peter Sellers' film career was a hit and miss affair to say the least but it surely hit a new low with this wretched, screamingly tedious, jumbled, painfully unfunny 'comedy' set in a French brothel during WW2 that sees Sellers' ego move into overdrive as it has him appearing in no fewer than 6 roles, each as annoying and unfunny as the next. How was this justified ? Oh I forgot, Peter was the star of the show and if Peter wanted the opportunity to wear as many costumes as he wanted whilst dazzling us with his repertoire of 'hilarious' accents then, hey, there's little point in the director, producer etc arguing with The Great One and so they might as well bow to his every whim. I was under the impression that at least 90% of the acting profession was out of work at any one time but it seems no-one told this to Sellers and if they had, he clearly wasn't listening. This abomination really was another nail in the coffin as far as his career was concerned and it came as no surprise that Inspector Clouseau made a re-appearance a year of two after this unwatchable drivel was polluting the handful of movie theatres that the distributors decided to show it in.

One of the better 007 baddies, Curt Jurgens, was clearly desperate for the pay cheque as he makes an appearance alongside the likes of Windsor Davies ( no sign of Lofty though ) and Rula Lenska.

Brutal stuff. Don't say you weren't warned.

It is a zany thing

[Apollo15AnnoPianoCatDogSnailAnt · 7/10 · 7 January 2020]

Beware of just full frontal nudity in the very beginning of a woman just standing like that. Also some see through while women stand around in skimpy clothing. Anyway this movie goes all over the place and is nonstop in farce it never lets up and there is just so much in any scene. It is all over the place, but its zany intentions are good.

Sad end to the career of the Boulting Brothers and Charter Films

[malcolmgsw · 1/10 · 24 June 2017]

Nobody seems to have mentioned that this awful film marked the end of the distinguished film careers of The Boulting Brothers and Charter films.It is difficult to know who to blame most.The writers,Roy Boulting as director or Peter Sellers for his overwhelming arrogance in believing he could play all 6 characters.This film is supposed to be a comedy but there are precious few laughs.His Gestapo officer seems to be in a different film from everybody else.Sellers made a lot of stinkers but this must rate as the worst of the lot.

One of my favourite Sellers films

[bradbaum · 10/10 · 24 January 2001]

To my mind, Sellers was at his peak when he made this film. It wasn't a commercial success like the Panther films, but it was a personal success for Sellers. He was being funny AND enjoying himself whilst doing it. I saw this film when it was first released at the cinema and enjoyed it then, and then again when it was shown on British TV. It hadn't aged, it was still excellent. I just wish Warners would release it on Video or DVD now......

the TOTAL Sellers

[sperman69 · 8/10 · 20 August 2001]

Super Sellers gives full show of his great abilities by playing completely different characters, Like he did in "Dr.Strangelove". Only this time he's pushing to the extreme! Hilarious movie, great comedy. I didn't give a super vote because (alas) it is only Peter Sellers who keeps it going, although it's more than enough for a genuine laugh! :) No, HE is GREAT (was it really needed to say so? even after the Pink Panther series?)

starring Peter Sellers and Peter Sellers and Peter..........

[gorytus-20672 · 8/10 · 26 December 2021]

December 2021

Yes Soft beds hard battles features Peter Sellers in about 6 different roles here, well as some other recognisable faces such as Jenny Hanley and Rula Lenska.

Interestingly when this came out it was an X certificate apparently and now its only a certificale 12, it does feature quite a bit of nudity.

Watch out for Gabriella Licudi from a great film called You must be joking, she looked so different here.

Largely a fun film, that perhaps loses it way a little towards the end.

8 beds out of 10.

The only film that ever made my grandfather laugh

[bizarrojerricorp · 10/10 · 15 March 2022]

This film has aged badly and there is good reason it is not streaming anywhere significant, but...that all said, I have fond memories of watching this film with my grandfather, who ordinarily would never watch slapstick comedies and was more of a war/history film buff, but who couldn't stop laughing at some of the often puerile but well executed physical comedy of the film. The "farting, sneezing and dropping down dead" sequence - his favourite scene - is oft recalled among our family long after my grandfather passed on, as a remembrance of him and his well hidden wicked sense of humour. But yes, you could never make this movie today.