- Actors: Stephen Murray, Kay Walsh, James Fox, Meredith Edwards, Gladys Henson
- Directors: Charles Frend
- Writers: T.E.B. Clarke
- Producers: Michael Balcon, Sidney Cole
- Classification: U
- Studio: Warner
- VHS Release Date: 3 July 2000
- Run Time: 79 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00004CNJ2
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 8,647 in Video (See Top 100 in Video)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this film as someone who'd moved to Liverpool and had an interest in the history of the city, coupled with a love of black and white films. The film is set in New Brighton ("Over the water") and in Liverpool itself.
I found it to be an interesting social commentary, as the lead characters all have Southern, well spoken accents, and the first local accent is heard some way into the film, spoken by a working class kid, as opposed to the comfortably middle class child in the lead role.
Still, it was a great film with humour and heartwarming qualities, great for family viewing and for general nostalgia. Heartily recommended.
I found it to be an interesting social commentary, as the lead characters all have Southern, well spoken accents, and the first local accent is heard some way into the film, spoken by a working class kid, as opposed to the comfortably middle class child in the lead role.
Still, it was a great film with humour and heartwarming qualities, great for family viewing and for general nostalgia. Heartily recommended.
20 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
I suppose the main interest of this film now is the childhood appearance of James Fox as our accidental hero, and a good job he makes too. A middle-class boy from Birkenhead cheats another boy out of a magnet and is plagued with guilt. The film follows the adventures of the boy and also of the magnet.
T.E.B Clarke had already written the lovely 'Hue and Cry' and the classic 'Passport To Pimlico' when he penned this little oddity. This was a somewhat lower quality effort, the satire (this time on Psychologists through the person of the insufferable father) is more heavyhanded, though there are some nice touches. The direction is more ponderous than in the earlier films and the childs eye view becomes a little oppressive. Still it remains watchable.
One for the true Ealing enthusiast. But don't expect too much.
T.E.B Clarke had already written the lovely 'Hue and Cry' and the classic 'Passport To Pimlico' when he penned this little oddity. This was a somewhat lower quality effort, the satire (this time on Psychologists through the person of the insufferable father) is more heavyhanded, though there are some nice touches. The direction is more ponderous than in the earlier films and the childs eye view becomes a little oppressive. Still it remains watchable.
One for the true Ealing enthusiast. But don't expect too much.
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Though The Magnet oozes middle-class wholesome 1950's family values, which can be seen these days as starchy and very straight-laced, this unusual offering from the Ealing Studios works well on many levels.
With his father a child psychologist, ten year old Johnny Brent (James Fox) has a very colourful imagination and loves inventing things and questioning everything. Johnny keeps getting under his mother's feet and so he is sent off out to play at the local beach to explore.
There, he trades rather dishonestly a magic (non-existent) watch for a giant magnet from a younger lad. The lad's nanny tells him off and so Johnny scarpers and starts imagining that he's in trouble with the police. Then, through completely contrived, but affectionately drawn events, the giant magnet comes up for auction and raises money for a hospital appeal. Johnny becomes hero.
Yes, this is whimsical nonsense and is rather Disney, before Disney did such things. But it's also the locations and snapshot of British life back then. It'll certainly appeal to the older generation and undoubtedly, to us boys of all ages, more, as it harks back to our own childhoods.
Generally, the acting is quite average and the direction from Ealing regular Charles Friend is about passable, though there are some fantasy sequences which are OK. However, the young James is a tonic, eschewing youthful zest and intrigue. He's completely natural and believable, little wonder that he went on to become the mega star he did.
The DVD transfer is OK but is a bit soft.
All in all, if you're expecting a comedy caper, as in the best Ealing tradition, you may be disappointed. But if you love your Ealing's and want to explore beyond the box-set classics, then this does quite nicely.
With his father a child psychologist, ten year old Johnny Brent (James Fox) has a very colourful imagination and loves inventing things and questioning everything. Johnny keeps getting under his mother's feet and so he is sent off out to play at the local beach to explore.
There, he trades rather dishonestly a magic (non-existent) watch for a giant magnet from a younger lad. The lad's nanny tells him off and so Johnny scarpers and starts imagining that he's in trouble with the police. Then, through completely contrived, but affectionately drawn events, the giant magnet comes up for auction and raises money for a hospital appeal. Johnny becomes hero.
Yes, this is whimsical nonsense and is rather Disney, before Disney did such things. But it's also the locations and snapshot of British life back then. It'll certainly appeal to the older generation and undoubtedly, to us boys of all ages, more, as it harks back to our own childhoods.
Generally, the acting is quite average and the direction from Ealing regular Charles Friend is about passable, though there are some fantasy sequences which are OK. However, the young James is a tonic, eschewing youthful zest and intrigue. He's completely natural and believable, little wonder that he went on to become the mega star he did.
The DVD transfer is OK but is a bit soft.
All in all, if you're expecting a comedy caper, as in the best Ealing tradition, you may be disappointed. But if you love your Ealing's and want to explore beyond the box-set classics, then this does quite nicely.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fascinating 1950s Liverpool views
A lovely gentle film, but if nothing else, buy it to see how the great city of Liverpool looked in the early 1950s. I was mesmerised! Highly recommended.
Published on 15 May 2008 by Woody
Great film - just like all the Ealing comedies!
What a charming film, and such great child actors too. This is a joy to watch from start to finish.
Published on 6 Jan 2006 by Norman Cheeseworthy
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