Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width

aka Armchair Theatre: Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width

Directed by Patrick Dromgoole
Writers: Harry Driver, Vince Powell

Saturday 18th February 1967

  • John Bluthal . . . . . . . . . Emmanuel 'Manny' Cohen
    Frank Finlay . . . . . . . . . Patrick Kelly
    Christopher Benjamin . . . . . . . . . Rabbi Levy
    Denis Carey . . . . . . . . . Father Ryan
    Dudley Foster . . . . . . . . . George Gladwin
    Charles Lamb . . . . . . . . . Wally
    Venetia Maxwell . . . . . . . . . Rita
    Michael McKevitt . . . . . . . . . Clerk


    Mini-skirts we've heard of, but mini-trousers? Patrick and Manny believe a good suit is worth waiting for, but much ado about George Gladwin's trousers creates a problem in their partnership.




  • Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width

    First broadcast in 1967 as a single play in the Armchair Theatre anthology series, it later become a highly popular series of half-hour episodes, which ran until 1971. A total of 40 episodes were made, all but one of them being believed to have aired. It was originally made by ABC Television for the ITV network, with its production being continued by Thames Television.

    The plots revolved around two tailors in business together. Manny Cohen, played by John Bluthal, was Jewish, and Patrick Kelly, played by Frank, was Irish Catholic. Joe Lynch would play the part in the TV series.

    A tiny gem in that long sequence which started way back with 'Abie's Irish Rose' ... Vince Powell and Harry Driver adorned the convention with some sharp observation of character and with warm bubbling fun that made it (to me, at least) irresistible viewing. The performances of Frank Finlay as Kelly and John Bluthal as Cohen ... were beyond praise. If this was dramatic journalism, with undertones of the 'Saturday Evening Post', it was journalism at a high level of achievement. ... A highly professional TV writing team ... That elusive combination of good writing, splendid acting, and attentive production which makes for good viewing.

    Cyclops in Television Mail (24/2/1967)

  • Armchair Theatre was a British television drama anthology series of single plays that ran on the ITV network from 1956 to 1974. It was originally produced by Associated British Corporation. Its franchise successor Thames Television took over from mid-1968.

    Frank appeared in several Armchair Theatre productions:

    A Foot in the Door (1969) ... David Field
    Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (1967) ... Patrick Kelly
    Always Something Hot (1962) ... Bosun
    The Hard Knock (1962) ... Franco Angelo