All Over the Town

What more could you want. Lovely views of Lyme Regis, still looks much the same, and small town politics. As a former Mayor at a neighbouring town I can tell you that little has changed in respect of infighting on grandiose schemes to improve local amenities. They still have Operatic groups and fuctions raising money for good causes, British Legion, RNLI etc. The stars are numerous, 10 seconds of Stanley Baker, Patrick McNee and Bryan Forbes in early roles. Worth watching!

I enjoyed this film for the first time which is a bit surprising since I am something of an aficionado about films of this vintage.What surprised me was its quality and that no UK TV network has transmitted it before to my knowledge.Well about the film.Norman Wooland's character comes back to his old job as an ace reporter on a local UK South Coast newspaper "the Clarion" under the editor played by Ronald Adam.During the war Sarah Churchill's character had taken over the reins while Norman's had served in the RAF as a flying officer.With peacetime Brian Forbes runs around town advising Norman is back on the scene so Sarah has to think about resigning her temporary job thus handing it back.

There are a lot of small time politics acted out especially the building of houses which a previous architect had designed but then had them voted down by the council.Corruption by the local council has been evident especially when a council official offers a member of the paper's staff a high place on the council waiting list in return for their support for their alternative scheme.Inevitably Sarah and Norman join forces especially after the old editor dies and Norman is appointed his replacement.Sarah had wanted to leave the confines of the local town and search elsewhere but changed her mind when Norman asks her to marry him.Thats all I will disclose of the plot.

This film has an all British cast and production team, is well written, acted and structured.I must admit that until I looked up their individual biographies on I.M.D.B I confused the actors Derrick de Marney and Norman Wooland who both have similar faces to me.As a 71 year old I was 2 in 1948 and remember tasting early post war chocolate which was rationed, staying at a bungalow in Greatstone, Kent with my late parents, elder sister and paternal grandmother and overall I rated it 7/10.

Superlative depiction of small town English life, postwar. Not to be taken lightly ...though the conflicts are shrouded in a comedic fashion, the message about integrity and courage in the midst of low down, mean spirited adversity can and, just, maybe should be taken seriously. Curious characters as well as the stereotyped dwell here...yet, even the stereotyped---because of the quaint datedness of the production---just not that way in the 21st century.

What prompted me to even register, here, and vote and, then comment on this movie, was the incredible performance and beauty of Sarah Churchill. Simply a modern day competitor to Blanchette, Streep, et.al

An enjoyable little frolic set against the backdrop of a local newspaper reminiscent of the Ealing comedies (and anticipating 'Chance of a Lifetime' and the offbeat sixties Norman Wisdom comedy 'Press for Time') enhanced by attractive location photography of Lyme Regis standing in for the the fictional seaside town of 'Tormouth' where the underdogs take on the fusty and venal establishment.

Broad-faced Norman Wolland and sloe-eyed Sarah Churchill are attractively unconventional young leads, while Cyril Cusack is cast spectacularly against time as a fussy little capitalist lacky. (As usual there are also interesting faces among those unbilled, including future TV stars Patrick ('The Avengers') Macnee and Eric ('Please Sir') Chitty.)

An RAF pilot returns to his job as a newspaper reporter in a small seaside town. At first he questions the importance of writing about the local goings on, but after unexpectedly becoming the editor, he decides to use the paper for the betterment of the community. In the process, he finds himself romantically involved with the woman who filled his job while he was serving in the war. This is a droll comedy that falls somewhere between Frank Capra and Preston Sturges in it's take on small town British life. All the characters are nicely written and acted, with a vein of dry wit running throughout the film (the local undertaker in particular). Fans of "The Avengers" can spot Patrick MacNee in a small role. If you're a fan of the Ealing comedies, this would be a "must see". It is, in any case, an entertaining and uplifting film.