- Actors: Richard Attenborough, Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, Joyce Carey, Stephen Murray
- Directors: Sidney Gilliat
- Format: PAL, Full Screen, Black & White
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Classification: PG
- DVD Release Date: 14 Nov 2005
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000BWOZCQ
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 77,126 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details |
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Percy Boon (Richard Attenborough) is a young car mechanic, who lives in a boarding house, with his elderly mother (Gladys Henson). In 1930s London, money is scarce and he is always interested in making some extra, even if it is crimminal. He likes the "ladies" and, in particular, has his sights set on young Doris Josser (Susan Shaw), who lives in one of the other rooms, with her family. Doris is a respectable and pretty girl, just the type that Percy wants to meet; a cut above the other girls he has been seeing - in particular a blonde girl (Eleanor Summerfield) who works in the amusement arcade opposite his garage. She is "keen" on young Percy, but he is keener to improve his social status by "courting" Doris. Thus, the film moves on into the main theme. However, although this is the underlying "plot" of the film, it is really about the lives of those who lived in boarding houses in the 1930s era, immediately prior to WWII.
The characters are all there; Connie Coke (Ivy St. Helier) plays a brilliant part as the spinster, who never has a Shilling for the meter, or enough for the rent! Mrs Vizzard (Joyce Carey), the landlady, falls for the charms of her newest lodger, Henry Squales (Alastair Sim). He, too, is mostly impecunious and resorts to deceiving her, when he learns that she has an interest in the occult (he being a "medium" of somewhat questionable claims [Not Brighton!]) His "ghostly" demeanour, coupled with his most distinguished voice and manner, turn a person into a character whom one cannot help but feel a degree of sympathy for, even if he is an extremely poor "con man".
The residents include Mr and Mrs Josser (Wylie Watson and Fay Compton respectively) , who are awaiting his retirement and who have put aside a small "nest egg" to buy a house in the country. There is, of course, Headlam Fynne (a young and slender Hugh Griffith), who is desperately warning everyone about the impending war he foresees (a pity Chamberlain didn't have his vision!) Each one of the residents is associated with the other and their lives, albeit loosely, intertwine and affect each other and they provide the more humourous, light-hearted side of the story.
It is, though, Percy Boon who becomes the focus of attention, when tragedy strikes on the way home in a car he has just stolen........ The rest, you must enjoy for yourself.
Certainly a strange film, but with so many superb actors, it isn't difficult to see the mixture of humour and gravity. A definite "must see" and one to be highly recommended. Being shot in black-and-white just adds to the bleak feeling. The print is excellent as is the soundtrack.
The characters are all there; Connie Coke (Ivy St. Helier) plays a brilliant part as the spinster, who never has a Shilling for the meter, or enough for the rent! Mrs Vizzard (Joyce Carey), the landlady, falls for the charms of her newest lodger, Henry Squales (Alastair Sim). He, too, is mostly impecunious and resorts to deceiving her, when he learns that she has an interest in the occult (he being a "medium" of somewhat questionable claims [Not Brighton!]) His "ghostly" demeanour, coupled with his most distinguished voice and manner, turn a person into a character whom one cannot help but feel a degree of sympathy for, even if he is an extremely poor "con man".
The residents include Mr and Mrs Josser (Wylie Watson and Fay Compton respectively) , who are awaiting his retirement and who have put aside a small "nest egg" to buy a house in the country. There is, of course, Headlam Fynne (a young and slender Hugh Griffith), who is desperately warning everyone about the impending war he foresees (a pity Chamberlain didn't have his vision!) Each one of the residents is associated with the other and their lives, albeit loosely, intertwine and affect each other and they provide the more humourous, light-hearted side of the story.
It is, though, Percy Boon who becomes the focus of attention, when tragedy strikes on the way home in a car he has just stolen........ The rest, you must enjoy for yourself.
Certainly a strange film, but with so many superb actors, it isn't difficult to see the mixture of humour and gravity. A definite "must see" and one to be highly recommended. Being shot in black-and-white just adds to the bleak feeling. The print is excellent as is the soundtrack.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
A lovely film with a young Richard Attenborough, plus all the British cast.
It arrived within two days of requesting it.
It arrived within two days of requesting it.
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
