Post by rmichaelpyle on Dec 29, 2011 13:17:58 GMT -6
I watched a lovely gentle British comedy last night, "Barnacle Bill" (1957) with Alec Guinness. This Ealing comedy was released the same year Guinness was also in his Academy Award winning lead actor role in "Bridge on the River Kwai", proving the man had enormous depth and breath as an actor, a range that continually shown until his death.
The premise of "Barnacle Bill" is so ridiculous (and flimsly) as to be nearly ludicrous - and very, very British. First of all, this sea Captain has sea-sickness to the ultimate! Indeed, the opening credits bob up and down and up and down and up and down while we, as watchers, try to catch what is being shown! When we finally get the essence of the film, we understand that this British seaman, the seventh or so generation in a row of such, has now bought a naval pier. Because of circumstances much too complicated to go into, it becomes necessary to turn this over-one-thousand-foot-long pier into a ship! When the launching occurs, even more incredible fun begins! On and on, until a very satisfying conclusion.
Many great British actors and actresses traipse through this one, from Irene Browne and Maurice Denham (very young, here!) to Joan Hickson and Lionel Jeffries. In a couple of very era-setting scenes, a very young (20 years old) Jackie Collins in tight capri pants dances the era's music in hilarious scenes. Donald Pleasance and Junia Crawford, Miles Malleson and Eric Pohlmann, and many other wonderful Brit actors also have bit parts.
The more I watch of Ealing comedies the more I'm convinced that they not only represent Britain to the core from 1940-circa 1960, but do not have a single misfire in the entire bunch. For the record, this was the very last of the Ealing comedies.
Great film. Gentle comedy that will awe you by the end just by its sheer silliness-that-kept-you-watching-anyway-because-it-was-played-straight-and-made-you-silently-howl.
The premise of "Barnacle Bill" is so ridiculous (and flimsly) as to be nearly ludicrous - and very, very British. First of all, this sea Captain has sea-sickness to the ultimate! Indeed, the opening credits bob up and down and up and down and up and down while we, as watchers, try to catch what is being shown! When we finally get the essence of the film, we understand that this British seaman, the seventh or so generation in a row of such, has now bought a naval pier. Because of circumstances much too complicated to go into, it becomes necessary to turn this over-one-thousand-foot-long pier into a ship! When the launching occurs, even more incredible fun begins! On and on, until a very satisfying conclusion.
Many great British actors and actresses traipse through this one, from Irene Browne and Maurice Denham (very young, here!) to Joan Hickson and Lionel Jeffries. In a couple of very era-setting scenes, a very young (20 years old) Jackie Collins in tight capri pants dances the era's music in hilarious scenes. Donald Pleasance and Junia Crawford, Miles Malleson and Eric Pohlmann, and many other wonderful Brit actors also have bit parts.
The more I watch of Ealing comedies the more I'm convinced that they not only represent Britain to the core from 1940-circa 1960, but do not have a single misfire in the entire bunch. For the record, this was the very last of the Ealing comedies.
Great film. Gentle comedy that will awe you by the end just by its sheer silliness-that-kept-you-watching-anyway-because-it-was-played-straight-and-made-you-silently-howl.
