Just William's Luck

I remember watching this film on BBC Television when I was sat next to my mother on Christmas Day in 1961. I was 10 years old. It still makes me laugh - 60 years later.

I have just watched it again on Talking Pictures this morning and, even now, it seemed even more appealing. It is definitely a film that would have appealed to young and old alike.

The first part of the film describes a World gone by - a World that no longer exists. The film described a World of family breakfasts and mealtimes - almost treated as a social event. It also shows idyllic country cottages, where even ordinary families had a maid or a housekeeper.

The scene where "The Outlaws" were haunting the house was absolutely hilarious. It had the whole family and our Christmas guests in stitches. The scenes were so well done that they surpassed that of many of the classic comedy films that were made around the same time.

Richmal Compton's character William was very close to my mother's heart as she had read every single one of the books. As a matter of fact, I still have most of them all in my attic. After seeing this film again, I think I will read them one more time.

Yes, it was a film set in an ideal World that probably never really existed. There was no post war austerity, no impoverished rationing, all the women dressed in nothing drabber that than what would have been seen in an expensive fashion catalogue, and two bob (10 pence/ 12 cents) was a lot of money. However, that aside, it was truly a delightful film.

Just William's Luck is a cheaply made B feature from 1948 featuring Richmal Crompton mischievous hero. It holds up remarkably well. Maybe because the nauseating Violet Elizabeth is kept to the minimum.

William (William Graham) is introduced as the archetypal menace. By the time he gets down for breakfast, he has swapped boot polish for his father's shaving foam and vice versa.

He interferes in his older brother's life. Wondering why he has not married yet and tries to fix him up with film star Gloria Gaye (Hy Hazell) who has come to town for a short break.

William and his gang, the knights of the round table decide to scare someone in a haunted house.

Unbeknownst to them some fur coat thieves plan to rob it. Can Just William save the day.

This is a brisk effort, the finale with the thieves is directed like a silent movie. Silly and fun even for children of today.

A cheaply made b&w post-War British family film, revolving around 11 yo William Brown, his long-suffering family and his Outlaw gang. Not a lot of money was wasted here, there's whole stretches of silent movie - especially noticeable at the climax where the frenetic action and tense music tries to disguise the fact no-one speaks for 10 minutes.

The Outlaws see themselves as Nites of the Square Table Wrighting Rongs - sort of quasi-Quixotic - and after an hour of adventures with local luminaries such as a glamorous film star and an erudite tramp get involved with a gang of fur smugglers. The book by Richmal Crompton followed later with Val Guest's screenplay being rewritten in places to tighten up on characterisation slippage. But basically William's World is intact and Garry Marsh for my money was the best Mr. Brown ever, even if a little bit too bald. William Graham as William himself was in character - pity about his gang of hair though!

A nice film for fans but not much here for people who've never read a William story.

Low-budget screen adaptation of the popular Just William novels with forgotten child actor William Graham in the title role. Light on plot and laughs, although there are a few funny moments. Hugh Cross, who plays William's older brother here, would play his father in the 1970s TV series.

Surprisingly, there is no demand for the services of William Graham and his fellow Knights of the Square Table (wrongs righted, sixpence or one shilling). William turns his attention to his elder brother, who hasn't married movie star Hy Hazell, or even introduced himself. Eventually he concludes it's because of the post-war housing shortage. The Knights of the Square Table, therefore, decide to haunt the biggest house in town; once the owner has fled, William's brother and his bride can move in to enjoy connubial bliss. But, alas! Tramp A. E. Matthews knows how to do this and more. He, however, insists on a two-bob initiation, which the boys haven't got. So they have to haunt the place on their own, just as thieves are using the place to hide their loot.

With father Garry Marsh on the boil, William has a hard time keeping out of trouble.in this harmless but amusing screen version of one of Richmal Crompton's numerous 'Just William' stories.