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Only Two Can Play

Play trailer Poster for Only Two Can Play 1962,  1h 46m,  Comedy/ Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 83% 6 Reviews Tomatometer 60% 100+ Ratings Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 60% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
With an unsatisfying home life and career, librarian John Lewis (Peter Sellers) spends most of his time daydreaming of illicit affairs with attractive women. On one such day, gorgeous Elizabeth Gruffydd-Williams (Mai Zetterling), the wife of prominent community figure Vernon Williams, walks into his life. Soon the two are plotting a passionate love affair, but somehow never seem to make it work. Meanwhile, Lewis' wife, Jean (Virginia Maskell), waits for him to come around.

Critics Reviews

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Walter Goodman New York Times Jan 10, 2018
Sidney Gilliat's direction is deft, and Sellers is in form, which is about as good as comedians come. Go to Full Review
Jack Hawkins HeyUGuys Jan 26, 2026
3/5
Only Two Can Play might be a footnote in Sellers’ career, but it is an interesting display of his talents and a minor snapshot of kitchen sink Britain. Go to Full Review
Eddie Harrison film-authority.com Jan 20, 2026
5/5
…Only Two Can Play is Sellers at his most subtle, but also at his funniest and most grounded in reality…this is a vibrant picture of class conflict where shots are fired from all sides, from the arts to the power elite… Go to Full Review
Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Apr 8, 2008
C+
A cheerless farce with pretensions of being a kitchen sink drama. Go to Full Review
Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com Oct 2, 2005
3/5
Ken Hanke Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC) Jul 19, 2004
4/5
Splendid early Sellers vehicle with great performances across the board. Go to Full Review
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Only Two Can Play

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Cast & Crew

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Sidney Gilliat

Director

Peter Sellers

John Lewis

Mai Zetterling

Liz

Virginia Maskell

Jean Lewis

Richard Attenborough

Gareth L. Probert

Kenneth Griffith

Ieuan Jenkins

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Only Two Can Play

Only Two Can Play (1962) Only Two Can Play (1962) Only Two Can Play (1962) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis With an unsatisfying home life and career, librarian John Lewis (Peter Sellers) spends most of his time daydreaming of illicit affairs with attractive women. On one such day, gorgeous Elizabeth Gruffydd-Williams (Mai Zetterling), the wife of prominent community figure Vernon Williams, walks into his life. Soon the two are plotting a passionate love affair, but somehow never seem to make it work. Meanwhile, Lewis' wife, Jean (Virginia Maskell), waits for him to come around.
Director
Sidney Gilliat
Producer
Leslie Gilliat
Screenwriter
Bryan Forbes
Distributor
Kingsley-International Pictures Inc., RCA/Columbia
Production Co
Vale Film Productions, British Lion Film Corporation
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 20, 1962, Wide
Runtime
1h 46m
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