Down Among The Z Men DVD – Harry Secombe, Twelve Toppers

The one and only film outing for the stars of the groundbreaking 1950’s radio comedy series ‘The Goon Show’. During World War II a gang of dodgy criminals arrive in a small town with the aim to poach a professor’s secret atomic formula. Zany antics and madcap tomfoolery ensue as the troupe attempt to pull off their heist – of a Bicarbonate of Soda bomb!

Through song and dance, funny bits, and sheer wit this comedy brings Peter Sellers and his troupe from the British radio programme “The Goon Show” together to spoof World War II espionage. In this story, a few wayward criminals get together to steal a famous professor’s newly invented top secret formula.

Although they made their name in the medium of radio, the legendary Goons also made brief forays into the world of television and, with Down Among the Z Men, film. It captures the team at a very early stage in their career, with Michael Bentine still in the fold, and with their unique, anarchic brand of humour still in its infancy. Sadly, the style and feel of the film does little to suit their comedy style. While radio offered an opportunity for their imaginations to run riot, here the four find themselves tied to a few stock characters, most of whom would make a more animated appearances later in their career. The plot–with its tale of eccentric professors and evil spies–sees a series of musical numbers and a variety performance crow barred into the proceedings. Those who wish to add to an already existing Goons collection may want to consider this, but anyone wondering what all the fuss is about should head straight for the many radio collections available and hear the sound of true genius at work. On The DVD: Down Among the Z Men offers little to recommend, with the DVD lacking in any extras whatsoever. Being taken from an original fifties print, the black and white picture is of reasonable quality yet cannot help but look extremely dated. At best it is the sort of curio that would pass time on a Sunday afternoon but it is hard to consider this a particularly essential DVD release. –-Phil Udell