Displaying items by tag: Aiistair Sim

FOLLY TO BE WISE

UK, 1952, 93 minutes, Black-and-white.

Alistair Sim, Elizabeth Allan, Roland Culver, Colin Gordon, Martita Hunt, Janet Brown, Peter Martyn, Miles Malleson, Edward Chapman, Cyril Chamberlain, Michael Ripper, Robin Bailey, George Cole.

Directed by Frank Launder.

Frank Launder and his writing partner, Sydney Gilliat, contributed a great deal to British cinema in the 1940s and 1950s. They worked with Alistair Sim in The Happiest Days of Your Life and then in the Belles of St Trinian’s.

Alistair Sim was something of an institution and British cinema at this time, especially with An Inspector Calls and his two-to-forced as Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.

This is a very British film of the period, based on a play. And, the action is confined to offices, the hall, pubs, homes. The emphasis in.is on dialogue.

Alistair Sim is the chaplain, William Paris, who has a responsibility for organising entertainment on Saturday evenings, something artistic and intellectual instead of the soldiers gathering at the pubs.

The basic idea is to have a Brains Trust evening, a professor who conducts one on the BBC, Colin Gordon, an artist, Roland Culver very persuasive, antagonistic towards his wife, Elizabeth Allan. There is also the local Grande Dame, Martita Hunt, the local labour member, Edward Chapman. There is also the very absent-minded and deaf doctor, Miles Malleson and who does tell a joke which gets everybody laughing.

A range of confusion, Paris trying to MC the whole event, clash between husband and wife, basic question about marriage from Paris’s secretary… And some squabbling on stage as well as at home, discussions about marriage and, 1952, a reconciliation at the end which might strained credibility.

1. The title, saying, knowledge, wisdom – and the brains trust?
2. British films, the 1950s, small-budget, local stories, comic touches, strong British cast?
3. The setting, the military, the chaplain and office, the hall, the local pubs, the parade ground? The musical score?
4. Based on a play, emphasis on dialogue, action confined to offices, halls, homes, pubs?
5. The military situation, 1952? The recruits, training? The role of the officers, adjourning to the pub, the spirit amongst the men?
6. Captain Paris, an Alistair Sim character, his manner, style of speaking, enthusiasm, the touch of the dithery? Harassed? At the recital, the few in the audience, applause? His role as providing entertainment, the discussions with Jessie, the ensembles, the singers, cancelling appointments? The idea of the brains trust?
7. Walter and Jessie, his puzzle about her eagerness for education, her earnestness? Their work for Paris? The idea of the brains trust, Jesse and her eagerness? The visit to the Sprouts, the encounter with Angela and Professor Mutch? The proposal, her enthusiasm, the professor agreeing, George and his difficulties?
8. The relationship between Angela and the professor, George and his art, arrogance, manner, treatment of Angela, long friendship with the professor, the professor staying with the couple, his BBC success?
9. Preparations for the Brains Trust, the request for questions, the soldiers responding, Paris going through them, some projections, Jessie and her question? Later slipping it in? The friendship with Lady Dodd, her manner, agreeing to come? The local politician and his manner? Walter and the curtains and decoration?
10. The gathering, George and his drinking, the discussions? The doctor, his arriving late? The crowd in the hall, the slow clap, the beginning, the issue of the master of ceremonies, Paris and his role? The first questions, slight, the contributions, George and his drinking, cantankerous, the professor on edge, Angela, Lady Dodd, the politician and the exclusion of politics? His sensitivities?
11. Jessie, the question about marriage, the handling of the situation, Paris wanting to stop, Lady Dodd and her answer, the beginning of the situation between George, Angela and the professor, tensions, Jessie insisting, the audience backing her? Her motivation, want to know about marriage and how it worked? Walter behind-the-scenes? The interval, the continuance, Jessie and her speeches, Walter and his eventual long speech and Jessie’s romantic response?
12. The doctor, not hearing, absent-minded, eventually telling the joke and everybody enjoying it?
13. The aftermath, driving away, ousting the professor, Paris and the others in pursuit, the confrontation in the house?
14. The comeuppance for the professor, Paris and his interventions, Jessie, challenge to Angela, George and his change – and the credibility of the reconciliation?