This was a terrific film, with lots of unexpected mood shifts. Alistair Sim in particular was great, as was Stephen Murray, who plays Uncle Henry.
I was just a bit surprised that a movie this good has never generated any discussion, so I thought I'd start one.
It was an odd film and seem to go in several directions at once.
I saw this just to see Sim and he was as wonderful as always.
By the way, for fans of Sim in A CHRISTMAS CAROL/SCROOGE, did you recognize the murder victim?
She played Miss Flora, the object of wretched bachelor Topper's affections in that other Sim movie!
Sam Tomaino
This is a movie that starts out in one genre and finishes in another, rather like Robert Rodriguez' From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). In this case the transition is from Brit Noire to Ealing Comedy. Either somebody at Pinewood Studio got a bit confused. Or maybe it had become force of habit to introduce spontaneous community activism as a deus ex machina in those days.
http://byronik.com
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She and Alastair Sim were also together in "Laughter in Paradise", along with the actress who played the mother in this movie.
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Jim Hutton: talented gorgeous hot hunk; adorable as ElleryQueen; SEXIEST ACTOR EVER
Got this film for £4-99 from Simply Home Entertainment because Alistair Sim was in it. It was surprisingly good and showed some of the wealth of acting talent in British Films in the 40s and 50s. Don't think it's that well known.
shareI just recently found a taped copy of that TCM airing. excellent film! When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth...
It's now on Youtube. Having read the book, I was interested to see how it would work on screen. It's a difficult novel to film and I think they did the best they could, but I agree with the poster who says it's a bit of a mix of genres. Still, it's worth watching - Dicky is of course on fine form as the hysterical young chap who panics and runs, Sim is good as the 'mysterious stranger' but sadly doesn't get enough screen time to draw out Squale's character from the book. And the great character of 'Mr Puddy' (a compulsive-eating bachelor who turns into an unlikely war hero) is completely left out...
shareI saw it tonight at BFI Southbank in London. The main theatre was packed and the audience loved it. I truly believe that this little-known item will come to be recognised as one of the best British films ever made. It has a Dickensian feel about it with a host of colourful characters beautifully played by the entire cast. Sim is of course a joy. But there's great work from Fay Compton, Susan Shaw, Dickie Attenborough, Eleanor Summerfield and a stage actress who made only 5 films - Ivy St Helier. She's great. Sidney Gilliat does a lovely job of the script and direction.
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Managed to get the DVD of this. I like Dickie too but thought he over-acted terribly in this, every action and facial expression was exaggerated. However, it could have been the direction. But he got better - I think his best was as Christie in '10 Rillington Place'. And the awful Pinkie in 'Brighton Rock' - though that was made before this one I think.
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