I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Lupino at several sessions of New York's Silent Clowns showings of short comedies of his uncle Lupino Lane and father, George Lupino. I wouldn't have recognized him as the star of this movie, because he didn't wear a schoolboy cap, striped scarf and short pants, and was more than sixty years older than the 10-year old boy in the movie, who kindly but thoughtlessly gets into all sorts of mischief in a small English village, abetted by pals, including Roddy MacDowall. In a world populated by pompous and stupid adults, including Basil Radford and Amy Veness, it's a mild and amusing film version of Richmal Crompton's beloved series of stories.
It's noteworthy as the last feature directed by Graham Cutts. During the late silent period, he was considered one of the leading British directors, but he seems to have alienated too many people while on top -- including Alfred Hitchcock -- so that when he began to slide, there wasn't much support for him in the British studios' ranks.
It's noteworthy as the last feature directed by Graham Cutts. During the late silent period, he was considered one of the leading British directors, but he seems to have alienated too many people while on top -- including Alfred Hitchcock -- so that when he began to slide, there wasn't much support for him in the British studios' ranks.