Only Two Can Play and Carlton Browne Of The F.O. - cinemabang.com

In celebration of what would have been Peter Sellers’ 100^th Birthday this year, STUDIOCANAL  has announced the release of another two of his classic films, the much loved British satires ONLY TWO CAN PLAY (1962) from director Sidney Gilliat (writer: The Green Man, The Belles of St Trinian's) and CARLTON BROWNE OF THE F.O. (1959) from master duo Roy Boulting (The Family Way, Heavens Above) & Jeffrey Dell (Don't Take It To Heart), lovingly restored in 4K and on brand new Blu-Ray & DVD Vintage Classics editions from 26^th January 2026. 

Homegrown comedy legend Peter Sellers (The Pink Panther, The Lady Killers, I'm All Right) continues to demonstrate his remarkable talent and versatility in these celebrated post-wJack gems of the silver screen. Romantic satire ONLY TWO CAN PLAY follows Sellers as frustrated librarian John Lewis who embarks on a flirtatious and chaotic affair as escape from his dull family life, also starring Mai Zetterling (Frieda), Virginia Maskell (The Risk) and the brilliant Richard Attenborough (Brighton Rock) and based on the novel That Uncertain Feeling by Kingsley Amis, who was known for his witty depictions of post-war British life. Political farce CARLTON BROWNE OF THE F.O. sees Sellers take on a supporting role as the scheming prime minister of a tiny British colony to Terry-Thomas’s (School For Scoundrels) lead as bumbling Foreign Official Carlton Browne, who is tasked with handling diplomatic relations with the island. This hilarious parody of British colonial attitudes and government bureaucracy sees these two acting stalwarts at their best. 

These new editions join part of an expanding collection of 4K restorations of Peter Sellers films reissued in recognition of his centenary and include a thrilling selection of new bonus material. They will also form part of a fantastic new box-set of eight Peter Sellers films which will be available later in 2026. Recently released and also forming part of the box-set are comedy classics from the same period Two Way Stretch and Heavens Above!
More information on the box-set will be announced soon.

With numerous hits in the 50s including the likes of The Ladykillers (1955), The Smallest Show on Earth (1957) and I’m All Right Jack (1959), Peter Sellers was at the peak of his powers by the time he made Only Two Can Play in 1962.

Only Two Can Play is what we would now call a British kitchen sink drama and it tells the story of John Lewis (Sellars), a poorly paid and professionally frustrated librarian and occasional drama critic, who has a roaming eye for the ladies and whose affections fluctuate between glamorous Elizabeth Gruffydd-Williams (Liz), a designer with the local amdram and wife of a local councillor, and his long-suffering wife Jean.

Sellers is terrific as the womanising John Lewis and is ably supported by Mai Zetterling as Liz and Virginia Maskell as Jean.

Studiocanal have released a few Sellers classics over the past few months and Only Two Can Play has to be one of the best of them. As is always the case with the Studiocanal Vintage Classics series the picture quality and sound on the Blu-Ray disc is impeccable with the picture showing not a trace of its age.

The couple of behind-the-scenes extras are worthy additions as they give an appreciation of how, as well as being supremely talented, difficult an actor Sellers was to work with.

All in all, a terrific Blu-ray and a worthy addition to the Studiocanal Vintage Classics Series.

fact that he gets top billing, along with Terry Thomas who plays the title character, Sellers’s role is no more than a small bit part.

Filmed at the height of the cold war in 1957 the plot, where the small island of Gaillardia in the Pacific, after independence was granted by Britain, suddenly finds itself being fought over by other countries looking to mine their mineral resources, strangely, given things that are going on in the world, seems relevant even today.

In order to protect their interests, the Foreign Office send Carlton-Browne (Thomas) to the island to try and convince the new King (Ian Bannon) and his rather dishonest Prime Minister (Sellers) that Britain should be the ones that can help them make the most of their new found wealth.

The comedy in Carlton-Browne of the F.O. feels rather dated now, Terry Thomas’s acting style, which feels terribly old fashioned doesn’t help matters. Whilst the plot can, at times, with so many different characters, feel rather confusing.

As always with the Studiocanal Vintage Classic Blu-ray series the picture and sound are probably, as good, if not better, than when they were first projected in cinemas on its first release.

Carlton-Browne of the F.O. might not be the best Sellers film in Studiocanal’s Vintage Classic series, that would probably go to Only Two Can Play (1962) which was released on the same date. However, if you are a fan of the actor, it’s one that you will no doubt want to add to your collection.