The Magnet

A lot of the film was shot in New Brighton, and I have added this to the database as a location. The pier and ferry are no longer there but the Floral Pavilion and Wilkie's fairground (where they try to influence the pinball machine with the magnet) are. The swimming baths where the Miss New Brighton Competition takes place has gone as well. The bike shop was Longworths in Rowson St. You went and chose your bike and Mr Longworth told you to come and collect it next week so he had time to put the seat at the right height, check the brakes,oil it for you and check the tyres.

Ealing often sent their crews to exotic locations and the claim in the opening credits that this fanciful whimsy was filmed at Ealing Studios - unusually without Alec Guinness - is ironically promptly contradicted by its's vivid rendering by cameraman Lionel Banes of the Merseyside locations around which a young 'William' Fox (as he was then called) is pursued; although Banes does also do an atmospheric job on the interiors.

This film is very much of its time, and evokes a more gentler, long gone age. In many ways it is a typical "Ealing" film, although much location work takes place on Merseyside and, in particular New Brighton. I remember seeing this film on the children's' matinée in the 1950's - I enjoyed it then, and it has lost none of its charm now. It's main theme of "cheats not prospering" was a fine ideal then, and still applies today. The comparison of the affluent, comfortable, public school lifestyle of the main character to that of the boys he meets when he crosses the river to Liverpool, is very well drawn and brings an excellent sense of realism to the film. The location shots are first class, and lend an authenticity to the proceedings. The characters are, in the main, well portrayed and it's good to see another bravura performance from that most underrated of character actors, Meredith Edwards. All in all a lovely, timeless classic of a movie!

What a refreshing sight this film was to be enjoyed with my ten year old son, who by coincidence, was the same age as the protagonist in this film. I shuddered to think that Joseph might be able to act in a similar fashion on several occasions when I was not present, but I trust he will not. The film is funny, sharp-witted, and intelligent in its satire. The British have an understated way of delivering these kind of gems to the screen; whereas Hollywood always goes for the big production values and star power most of the time. Only the small independent filmmakers in America have a chance at making a film like this. See it and enjoy. And be careful buying your son or daughter a large magnet.

This is a delightful film about a young boy growing up in a small riverside town,just across from Liverpool, in 1950.He experiences guilt after conning a younger boy out of a magnet and wrongly believing that this has lead to the other boy's death.Humour is provided by the boy's father a psychiatrist/psychologist who has a theory and an answer for everything, unfortunately these are usually wrong. Lots of nostalgia for those of us brought up at that time and place:New Brighton Pier and Lido;Mersey Ferry and Dockland Overhead Railway;Blitzed Area of Liverpool below Anglican Cathedral;Biscuits being delivered in large tin boxes.

Most memorable scene:Liverpool/Chinese boy(played by Geoffrey Yin)- When his mother shouts at him in Chinese from a window,he turns to his friends and says "Me mam sez I've gotta ave mi tea" ...in a strong Liverpool accent.