Reviews

If you like the work of Wes Anderson then you will absolutely love this! Though released in 1955 it is astonishingly modern in its outlook, humour, and cinematic technique. Way ahead of its time it was woefully misunderstood and underrated on its initial release and it is only recently that this wonderful film has it become to be properly appreciated.

The delightfully daft plot, a reworking of Der Fledermaus, doesn't need a synopsis and, anyway, all you do need to know is given by Anton Walbrook, in character and directly to the camera, in the prologue. (I mentioned that the film had a marvelously modern feel). In a similar manner he also has a chance to make a pertinent political point later in the film.

Great directing and writing by the Archers, great acting, great music, great cinematography - and funny. What more could anyone ever wish for from a film?

It is no exaggeration to say that if Shakespeare had been around in 1960 this is the type of thing he would have written. Not for him the then popular Angry Young Man - he'd already done that.

This terrific tragi-comedy follows the story of 3 very different men as they vie for a vacant managerial post on the board of the small factory in which they work.

The always wonderful Donald Pleasance gives probably his best ever performance ever as a flawed, timid accountant.

Harry H Corbett, as a ne'er-do-well who has managed to marry his boss's sister, has a chance to show what a great actor he was and how much he deserves to be remembered for far more than just Harold Steptoe.

While the always excellent William Franklin, as an ambitious salesman, is allowed to give his familiar suave persona much depth than normal.

Though made on a B movie budget its acting, script, witty dialogue and location filming are all spot on. When the film was first shown post war austerity was just coming to an end and the swinging 60's were yet to arrive. A previous reviewer has mentioned the frank treatment of sex for the time and I will add to that its giving substantial roles to women - which also made it a forerunner of things to come.

This greatly underrated film would have been misunderstood when it came out and sadly fell into oblivion. It now well deserves to be rediscovered and really is a must see. Oh, and do laugh at the funny bits, they are meant to be there!