Romance with a Double Bass

Robert Young directed the 1974 British short comedy film Romance with a Double Bass. Young, John Cleese, and Connie Booth adapted it from a screenplay by Bill Owen, which was based on Anton Chekhov’s short story of the same name. Connie Booth, then his wife, plays the leading role.

Robert Young directed the film
John Cleese wrote it
Date of release
In 1974,
Time to complete
A 43-minute audio recording
United Kingdom
English

via: IMdb

Plot

Smychkov (Cleese), a bassist, arrives too early for the ball of a beautiful princess and spends his extra time skinny dipping in the lake. During this time, the princess (Booth) goes fishing at the lake and later goes skinny dipping. A thief absconds with both Smychkov’s and the Princess’s clothes, and while the Princess is wandering around naked, she meets Smychkov. After their embarrassing encounter, he hides her in his bass case to help her return to the castle.

via: Imdb

Cast

As Princess Constanza, Connie Booth
As musician Smychkov, John Cleese
As Count Alexei, Graham Crowden
As musician Razmakhaikin, Desmond Jones
As maestro Lakeyich, Freddie Jones
As the leader of the orchestra, Jonathan Lynn
As majordomo, John Moffatt
As a thief, Terry Nelson
As the Princess’s maid, Kathleen O’Donoghue
As Prince Bibulov, Dennis Ramsden plays the part
As Andrew Sachs, he is musician Zhuchkov
Whitfield plays his wife

via: famousfix

Production

Robert Young directed the film. The cast also included Andrew Sachs, who would appear with them in Fawlty Towers the following year.

via: cheers wiki-fandom

Romance with a Double Bass was filmed over ten days in October 1974. Filming took place in Wiltshire, England, with scenes shot in the Double Cube Room of Wilton House and the Somerley estate.