Associate producer: Alfred Shaughnessy. Executive producer: John Grierson. Narrated by Kenneth More. A Group 3 Production, released in the U.K. by Associated British, in Australia by B.E.F. (16 July 1953), in the U.S.A. by Mayer Kingsley. New York opening at the Park Avenue: 16 August 1952. Registered: February 1952. "U" certificate. 7,033 feet. 78 minutes.
COMMENT: In style, this agreeable comedy derives from the Ealing genre and although its picaresque adventures are not particularly original, the mood is fresh and bracing (thanks in part to a great deal of location filming) and the characters are engaging and likable.
I would have preferred that the script had more wit and the direction more sparkle, but the amusing situations, excellent playing and very pleasing location work carry the film through.
Eldridge ("Waverley Steps", "Three Dawns to Sydney") is not altogether at ease with comedy and goes in for some lyrical landscape photography which is attractive but a trifle irrelevant. But he has an undoubted narrative gift and the performances he elicits are genuine creations of character.
The mood is also well sustained and the comedy is never pushed too far into farce. Production values are excellent and credits professionally smooth. (Available on a Slam Dunk DVD of poor sound quality, especially in the first 20 minutes, but reasonably watchable.
COMMENT: In style, this agreeable comedy derives from the Ealing genre and although its picaresque adventures are not particularly original, the mood is fresh and bracing (thanks in part to a great deal of location filming) and the characters are engaging and likable.
I would have preferred that the script had more wit and the direction more sparkle, but the amusing situations, excellent playing and very pleasing location work carry the film through.
Eldridge ("Waverley Steps", "Three Dawns to Sydney") is not altogether at ease with comedy and goes in for some lyrical landscape photography which is attractive but a trifle irrelevant. But he has an undoubted narrative gift and the performances he elicits are genuine creations of character.
The mood is also well sustained and the comedy is never pushed too far into farce. Production values are excellent and credits professionally smooth. (Available on a Slam Dunk DVD of poor sound quality, especially in the first 20 minutes, but reasonably watchable.