Ealing was at it's most earnest when it decided to make probation officers the subjects of this film, entrusted to the reliable team of Dearden and Ralph (the latter's father actually featuring in the cast).
Cecil Parker for once gets a part of real substance as a former colonial administrator who quickly learns that there's a lot more to London than just Kensington and the West End, and is ably flanked by the lovely Celia Johnson. Future stars include a teenaged Joan Collins looking pretty the same as she still does, Sid James as a moustached police sergeant, Brenda De Banzie and dear old Katie Johnson as a batty old cat-lady. Ursula Howells is cast wildly against type as a drunken deb, Harry Fowler plays a tearaway with a chip on his shoulder, Lawrence Harvey is hilarious as a swaggering wide boy; but the most touching scene is easily depicting Parker discovered an extremely elderly Ada Reeve was once young.
Cecil Parker for once gets a part of real substance as a former colonial administrator who quickly learns that there's a lot more to London than just Kensington and the West End, and is ably flanked by the lovely Celia Johnson. Future stars include a teenaged Joan Collins looking pretty the same as she still does, Sid James as a moustached police sergeant, Brenda De Banzie and dear old Katie Johnson as a batty old cat-lady. Ursula Howells is cast wildly against type as a drunken deb, Harry Fowler plays a tearaway with a chip on his shoulder, Lawrence Harvey is hilarious as a swaggering wide boy; but the most touching scene is easily depicting Parker discovered an extremely elderly Ada Reeve was once young.