A little old lady who unwittingly helps five villains in an ingenious £60,000 robbery ends up with the proceeds when they fall out and kill one another.
This was Alexander Mackendrick's last film for Ealing Film Studios (going on to the US to direct Sweet Smell of Success) was made during the final days of the Studio: It was premiered at the time when the sale of the premises to the BBC Television was going through.
For such an essentially 'British' film it may come as something as a surprise to discover that it was written by William Rose an American.
The film revolves around the little old lady (superbly played by Katie Johnson) and her crumbling lop-sided Victorian house close to St Pancras Station (the scene of the robbery) and her attempts to mother the five crooks posing as musicians; Professor Marcus (Alec Guinness), Major Courtney (Cecil Parker), Louis (Herbert Lom), Harry (Peter Sellers), and 'One-Round' (Danny Green).
The final sequence in which the gang dispose of one another is a classic as the bodies are transported to various parts of the kingdom after being dropped into railway trucks. Herbert Lom's slow swing back (on a metal ladder) into oblivion and Alec Guinness's journey into the hereafter (given the final chop by a railway signal) brings this entertaining film to a fitting (and) brilliant conclusion.
Another sequence that many will remember with affection is the one in which they old lady is asked to collect a trunk (containing the £60,000) from the station and the frustrating way in which she dithers and dallys one her way home, even becoming involved in a dispute with a 'Barrow-Boy' (Frankie Howard) and leaving a trail of destruction and mayhem behind her.
Derann had quite a task in tracking down a suitable master for this welcome release; there were many delays before it finally became available.
What of the print/sound quality? The sound is excellent and full bodied making effective use of the music and effects track, in particular the thump of the signal that removes the Professor from this world.
The definition is reasonable but the colour somewhat subdued and muted. This (to a certain extent) was the case in the original (Halliwell describes it as 'poor' in his film guide) and this 8mm version having been made from a 35mm print has not improved on it, resulting in the exteriors having a slight blue look and the interiors a slight yellow one.
That having been pointed out I must say that I quickly became unaware of this (it should be noted that even TV prints of this film are not that brilliant), and greatly enjoyed the film, which by any account is a bargain at the price of £167.99 containing as it does one of the rare appearances of Peter Sellers on Super 8. A must too (surely?) for any Alec Guinness fan.
Classic comedy in the grand Ealing style.
Recommended despite the slightly dupy colour.
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Distributed by: Derann
Films. |
The above review was printed in Super Eight Film Review |
This page was last updated 02 Dec 2002