Only When I Larf

Only When I Larf

Year: 1968

Runtime: 104 mins

Language: English

Director: Basil Dearden

ComedyAdventure

These Three Do Everything Together A master conman leads a pair of British accomplices on an international adventure of highly profitable dirty tricks.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Only When I Larf yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Only When I Larf (1968)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Only When I Larf (1968). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1960s

Set against the slick, modern bustle of the 1960s, the film juxtaposes fast-paced New York finance and London society with exotic locales. It captures the era's mood of swashbuckling international crime using disguises, helicopter escapes, and high-stakes schemes. The past military memories of the characters also surface, grounding the era in postwar bravado.

Location

New York City, London, Africa (El Alamein), Umm Al Amad, Lebanon

The story moves from a Manhattan office block in New York City to the streets and skyline of London, then to North Africa around El Alamein, and finally to Umm Al Amad in Lebanon. Each setting provides a different backdrop for the trio's cons, from high finance to desert bargaining. The film uses these shifts to emphasize the global scale of their heist.

🏙️ Urban 🗺️ International 🏜️ Desert

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:37

Main Characters – Only When I Larf (1968)

Meet the key characters of Only When I Larf (1968), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bob (David Hemmings)

A quick-tempered, shrewd partner in the con who uses charm and disguises to maneuver through the plan. He betrays or tests loyalties through risky moves, including a kiss with his step-mother Liz. His improvisational reflexes help slip money through security and into disguises as the scheme unfolds.

🎭 Trickster 🧠 Schemer

Lowther / Silas (Richard Attenborough)

The mastermind orchestrating the cons, confident and calculating. He reveals a past in the British Army and keeps the group moving with elaborate role-play and deception. He is married to Liz and is Bob's father from an earlier marriage, which adds a personal layer to the con's dynamics.

🎯 Planner 🧠 Mastermind

Liz (Alexandra Stewart)

A core partner whose actions and desires propel the heist, adopting aliases and staging the social angles that lure targets. She teams with Bob to split the spoils, yet her own ambitions push against Lowther's authority. She ultimately drives away with cash in Lebanon.

💃 Charmer 🧠 Strategist

Spencer (Nicholas Pennell)

A mark in the Lebanese phase, presented as a big-money client under the impression of a lucrative commission. He is duped by the con and plays along until the final turn, when the cash appears and the plan collapses into a race for control.

🎭 Mark 🧠 Gullible

Awana (Edric Connor)

An arms dealer in Africa whom Lowther intends to outwit with a swap of scrap metal for guns. His role as a target of the con frames the Africa sequence and demonstrates the trio's willingness to upsell even dangerous goods.

🕴️ Trader 💼 Deal-maker

Gee Gee Gray (Terence Alexander)

The next American mark, Maurice 'Gee Gee' Gray, whom Liz and Bob encounter in Africa. He appears as a potential big client, but becomes one more obstacle in the escalating game of deception.

🎭 Mark 🕵️‍♂️ Suspicious

Ali Lin (Calvin Lockhart)

The real leader behind the gun deal; Lowther and the others maneuver to cheat him, revealing the international stakes and the power plays that frame the heist. His position as the gun supplier anchors the Lebanon sequence.

🕴️ Leader 🧭 Negotiator

Spider (Brian Grellis)

A contact in the Carlton Hotel who helps spot opportunities and coordinates with the trio in the kitchens and dining rooms. His street-sense and access contribute to the social maneuvers that facilitate the con.

🕵️‍♂️ Informant 🧭 Facilitator

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:37

Major Themes – Only When I Larf (1968)

Explore the central themes of Only When I Larf (1968), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🎭 Deception

Deception sits at the heart of the plot as the trio constantly swap identities, stage scams, and manipulate those around them. Disguises, fake roles, and misdirection propel the heist from New York to Beirut-like settings, with each twist raising the stakes. Trust dissolves as partners turn on each other in the pursuit of cash.

💰 Greed

Greed drives the scheme, pushing the team to chase enormous sums and increasingly risky gambits. They move from stealing a $250,000 cheque to plotting a far larger Lebanon deal, even as the risk of discovery grows. The promise of wealth accelerates betrayals and two-way splits.

👥 Loyalty

The narrative threads test loyalties within a makeshift family of con artists. Lowther's leadership and Bob's secret ties to him collide with Liz's ambition, while romance and rivalry blur lines of loyalty. Family ties complicate trust as greed pressures even kinship.

🌍 International Heist

The con unfolds across continents, exploiting cultural cues and international banking loopholes. From New York's skyline to London's clubs, and then desert negotiations in Africa and Lebanon, the film uses globe-spanning locales to heighten the audacity of the scam. The scale emphasizes that crimes are transnational in this era.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:37

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Unlock the Full Story of Only When I Larf

Don't stop at just watching — explore Only When I Larf in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Only When I Larf is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Only When I Larf Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Only When I Larf, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Only When I Larf Summary

Only When I Larf Timeline

Track the full timeline of Only When I Larf with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Only When I Larf Timeline

More About Only When I Larf

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Only When I Larf: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Only When I Larf

Similar Movies to Only When I Larf

Discover movies like Only When I Larf that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.