George beats Gene

[callmemadam]

I had trouble sitting through the first episode of Ashes to Ashes because I was itching to get back to watching a film I had recorded, Cottage To Let . I spotted this in the listings, which gave no information other than ‘black & white, Alastair Sim’. That was enough for me. I was surprised to find a black & white British wartime film I hadn’t seen before and wondered why it was not better known. Apart from the wonderful Alastair Sim, who amazes me every time I see him by his apparently effortless scene stealing, there is a remarkable performance from a fifteen year old George Cole. The film was directed in 1941 by Anthony Asquith and has a lot in common with Went the Day Well? (Alberto Cavalcanti, 1942) as they both deal with the enemy within. Watching these films, made before the tide of war had turned, you can appreciate the need for the ’Careless Talk Costs Lives’ campaign, so brilliantly illustrated by Fougasse.

Both these films star the actor Leslie Banks, obviously good and at the height of his career. Yet today he is hardly known, let alone a household name as I imagine Alastair Sim still is. As for George Cole, it was fascinating to see in his young self facial expressions and mannerisms which would endear him to audiences for the next sixty years. I recorded Ashes to Ashes and watched it all over again the next day, when I enjoyed it more. Gene will have to wait for a post of his own.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Of course Netflix doesn't offer this one, maybe because it isn't on dvd (yet?), but I did find some other Alistair Sim movies to put in my queue. I already had Green for Danger because I have the book, and after I read it, I want to see the film. The others are Wee Geordie, School for Scoundrels, Hue and Cry. Thank you for the great post.

[callmemadam.livejournal.com]

I love Green for Danger! Even if the film is different from the book. I don't know Wee Geordie, I must look out for it. AS was so good in al those war films, like Waterloo Road.
Glad you liked the post; we obviously have similar tastes. I bet you like John Mills, too.

[louise culmer (from livejournal.com)]

DElightful film. All the cast are wonderful, very entertaing story.