SpuffyWeb Sadly Over-hyped

Beystiman It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Neive Bellamy Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

Edwin The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

Red-Barracuda An elderly clothing store worker asks his boss if he could have a new coat to replace his old battered worn-out garment. He is denied this one wish by his cold hearted boss and so asks his tailor friend if he could make him one instead. His friend agrees to make one for cost only but, sadly, the old man is soon thereafter fired from his job and quickly dies of pneumonia. He returns as a ghost to his friend and they steal a coat from the shop, one that he considered his right given his many years of loyal service.This short was directed by Jack Clayton, who would go on to helm important films such as The Innocents (1961), another film about ghosts although coming from an entirely different place. This small-scale movie actually went on to win an Oscar for best short film. It is very well executed with very good acting by all involved. It packs an emotional punch too, with its simple story about friendship and loyalty handled in a way that never goes for over sentimentalism and achieves its objectives by more subtle means. The moment when the old man disappears into the darkness is really a very sad moment indeed and it is done so simply yet so poignantly. A very good example of what can be achieved in the short film format.

Robert Reynolds This short won the Academy Award for Live Action Short, Two-Reeler, over two shorts from Disney, which was no small feat back then. There will be spoilers ahead:The title of this short refers to the practice of custom-tailoring clothing to fit an individual, with such apparel referred to as "bespoke" and thus not to be sold to anyone else. The short begins with a funeral and a tailor dropping a coat in a grave. The story is related by the ghost of the dead man visiting the tailor that night.The tailor, named Morrie, is friends with Fender, a clerk for Ranting and Co., a clothing manufacturer. When Fender asks the current owner of Ranting if he can buy a sheepskin coat on time, he is callously refused, even though he's worked for the firm for more than 40 years and knew the current Ranting when he was a child.Fender pleads with Morrie to mend his current coat, but it's too old and can no longer be repaired, it's too far gone to be mended. They strike a bargain on a custom coat at cost. Morrie begins making the coat and gets a down payment.Fender gets sacked by Ranting and tearfully tells Morrie he cannot pay for the coat. Fender gets sick and dies of pneumonia. He is the ghost who visits Morrie and asks for his help in settling a debt of honor with Ranting. They go to the warehouse, where the ghost of Fender gets them in the warehouse and Fender helps himself to a sheepskin coat. Fender then asks Morrie to say a prayer for him and the short ends back at Morrie's with Morrie praying for Fender.The three principal roles are all well done by the actors, but Alfie Bass stands out as Fender. It's a wonderful short and richly deserved its Oscar.This is available on a region 2 DVD release of The Innocents and I saw it online. Most highly recommended.

j-b-w-1 Those who have written eloquently of their love for this picture may by now have found it.If they have not, they should know that it is available as a splendid extra on the BFI DVD of Jack Clayton's The Innocents. Worth going multi-region if not in Region-2!Both films look very good and The Bespoke Overcoat seems to have gained a few minutes since its original release: it does not begin with the deathbed scene described by a previous poster but with a pre-title sequence in a graveyard.I hope this is helpful.

agnabeya I saw this film in 1960. I was 8 years old - and my much older sister had taken me along to see another film at the Glasgow Cosmo - the 'Art House' cinema of the time. I have no idea what the main film was - but this one was enchanting.No film has made such an impression on me - ever. It was 45 years ago - and I remember the words and scenes as if it were yesterday - despite only having seen it the one time.Spoiler*******When Morrie begins praying for Fender - it was only then I realised that Fender had been a ghost. It was so heart breaking - I couldn't stop weeping for days. My Mother was furious with my poor sister for 'upsetting' me by taking me to 'grownup' films.I have tried searching on the internet to see if a film copy (VHS or DVD ) is available. I found a copy of the play at a London bookstore - and amazingly - everything I remembered was as it was written.If anyone knows where I might find a copy - I would be most grateful.