Alec Guinness’ character, put upon farm machinery salesman Mr Bird, is told he’s not got long to live, by a rather too cheery doctor. So he decides to spend all he has enjoying what time is left him.
To that end he gets some new togs, and goes to stay in a swanky coastal hotel, in the fictional resort of Pinebourne (like Fawlty Towers, in Torquay). The combo’ of his stiff upper lip – not telling anyone why he’s carrying on as he is – and a comedic misapprehension of who he might be, by his fellow hotel guests and the staff, provides a great foundation for a comedy of errors/manners.
I won’t synopsise the plot any further, as I don’t want to spoil it for viewers coming to it fresh. Suffice it to say that it’s beautifully written (J. B. Priestley), filmed and acted, and is both funny and ultimately very poignant.
We love the black and white look, and the whole vintage British cinema vibe: from the genteelly posh establishment types, to Sid James as the nouveau riche cockney entrepreneur, the characters have a lot of charm; costumes, hairstyles, settings and ‘tech’ (as much horse and cart as motor vehicle), all evoke a vanished era. Wait till you see what £65 gets you at the tailor’s!
I absolutely loved this film. Guinness is, as so often, completely superb. And the film itself is both sweet and yet serious, cosy and yet a little shocking, gentle yet powerful. And ultimately, a bit different, yet reassuringly familiar.
Some of the themes touched upon are, wealth and class, living authentically, manners, and suchlike. It’s kind of an oddball movie, in ways. Hard to see anything like this being made nowadays, unless by an arty outsider auteur. But back in the ’50s, such things were more normal in the mainstream.
Highly recommended.