Diagonaldi Very well executed

Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Infamousta brilliant actors, brilliant editing

Billy Ollie Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

jc-osms I had just recently read Arnold Bennett's hugely entertaining comedic mini-novel on the inexorable rise of Denry Machin and had no idea it had ever been made into a movie, far less one with direction by Ronald Neame, a screenplay by Eric Ambler and starring Alec Guinness and Glynis Johns. Being from a different studio, it strictly speaking doesn't qualify as an Ealing Comedy but in every other respect, it surely does, displaying all the understated charm and verve of the very best of them.I was pleased that the film followed the novel so closely, with only a few incidents which didn't merit inclusion (such as Denry's elaborate trick to move his mother into a grander house, the incident with the Duchess's glove and his getting locked inside the Duchess's grand house) and one or two new ones added (like Ruth's happy ending and the parade for Denry and Nellie at the end). In fact the closing scene where Denry ends up back on his little mule-drawn carriage is a delightful touch of which I'm sure the author would have approved, indeed the whole scene which roll-calls all of Denry's past achievements is a very clever device.Guinness, as you would expect, is superb as the get-ahead heart-of-gold Denry but he is matched by Johns as the go-getting spendthrift Ruth, with a wheedling voice that would turn milk. Valerie Hobson is grand as the charitable, down-to-earth Duchess while the young Petula Clark is charming as the innocent Neillie who gets her just desserts too.There are many lovely moments in the film, like when's he crowd makes way for Denry to boldly dance the Duchess at her own ball for a £5 bet, the incident of Ruth's runaway carriage as she attempts to welsh on her rent, Denry's bold takeover of the ailing local football team to further his mayoral prospects and of course his devastating one-liner at Llandudno station to put Ruth in her place at long last.This superb little film deserves to be much better known as indeed does the parent novel. Do yourself a favour and read the book first and then treat yourself further by watching this marvellous adaptation straight afterwards. It's double delight.

didi-5 A classic Alec Guinness performance, in this case as Denry Machin, a man who sees opportunity around every corner. Typified by his line 'I just do this to make money', Machin is likable as he sets up his 'Thrift Club' to entice locals into giving him money so he can purchase goods at a huge discount.One of the first entrepreneurs, Machin is a lovable rogue and his story is a fun one to watch. A great British classic which showcases Guinness (one of our best actors) alongside British movie luminaries Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, and Petula Clark.Much later this story was made into a musical, but sadly that has never yet been filmed. It will be fascinating if that ever makes it to the screen.

sol- Apparently a comment on transcending class boundaries, the message seems to get lost amidst the gags, however the film can still be enjoyed as a light comedy. It has a number of amusing moments and ideas, and the introductory narration is wonderfully descriptive. The film suffers from predictability and a rather mundane screenplay and plot, but Alec Guinness's charm and charisma save the day. Glynis Johns is however annoying whenever on screen, but the other actresses manage to do okay. Ronald Neame has done comedy better before - he seems to insert too much action into his vision of the material here - but it ultimately is an entertaining overall film nevertheless.

junk-monkey This is a wonderful film. That's it. There is nothing else to be said. Really. It's gentle, charming, witty and just about perfect in every way. (Ok, if you are a hard-core slasher / zombie movie fan you aren't going to like it - but anyone into grown up movies will be charmed.)The script is light and flawless, there isn't a wasted shot, and Guinness is superb. After a few minutes I had forgotten it was Alec Guinness on the screen and was hooked. I especially loved the way Guinness couldn't dance at his first lesson - a wonderful piece of physical acting - and I was genuinely squirming with apprehension as the gauche young solicitor's clerk marched through the ballroom to ask the Countess of Chell for a dance.A beautiful gem of a film.