The Time of His Life

Wormwood Scrubs makes another of it's frequent fifties & sixties film appearances as 'Wandsmoor Prison' ("the only place where people believe I'm innocent") from which Mr Pastry emerges after twenty years for embezzlement (although his facility for making skeleton keys shows he could have got out long ago had he wanted to).

Working on a shoestring, director Leslie Hiscott's first postwar feature film emphasises character rather than slapstick, although Richard Hearne occasionally demonstrates the physical comedy for which Mr Pastry is remembered.

After decades in prison for a crime he insists and the warden believes he didn't do, Richard Hearn is set free. Actually, he's in the custody of his daughter, Ellen Pollock. She's a socially prominent woman who wants him out of the country. Until that can be arranged, he's staying at the house.

Hearne had become prominent on television in the late 1940 playing his Mr. Pastry character. Here, he's in full cry, stumbling his way into musical instruments, pipes, and so forth, while maintaining a befuddled aspect. Under the direction of Leslie Hiscott -- who had disappeared from movie credits for more than a decade -- he offers a pleasant comedic talent in a low-key story, distressing everyone and saving the day. Hearne would continue playing Biscuit until his death in 1979 at the age of 71. Reportedly, he was offered the lead role in DOCTOR WHO after Jon Pertwee left; his insistence on playing the Doctor as Mr. Biscuit led to Tom Baker getting the part.

This time Mr. Pastry (Richard Hearne) is a grandfather who has just been released from prison. He is well liked at the prison and he would prefer to stay on as the warden's gardener. But Mr Pastry's daughter is now in charge of rehabilitating him and back into society he must go. His daughter and her husband are quite horrible people, only interested in social climbing. They consider him the family disgrace and they plan to lock Mr Pastry into his room during a weekend of business and pleasure at the family estate.

While his daughter and her husband consider Mr. Pastry a great problem, the grandchildren have other views. In fact it is Mr. Pastry who helps the kids out of a tight jam while the parents are trying to find someone to blame. A very whimsical, slapstick affair, with Mr. Pastry suggesting a good heart is perhaps more important than good manners and social standing.

There is something almost "Mr. Chips" about Richard Hearne's performance as "Charles Pastry" in this episodic comedy about a convict released, after a very long stretch, into the rather unwelcoming arms of his well-to-do daughter "Florence" (Ellen Pollock). She arranges to accommodate him, but that means being locked in an attic room until she can find somewhere obscure to put him. He is a mischievous old soul, and is soon causing domestic mayhem in her normally well-ordered house. The humour is gentle, if predictable, and it's quite an interesting observation on family and snobbery amiably helped along by the reliable Richard Wattis.

Very simple and pleasant British comedy that mixes in a bit of pathos -- but not enough to spoil the fun. Richard Hearne does his usual Mr. Pastry character -- lots of sight gags. This time he's an ex-con father of a very proper British lady (Ellen Pollock). She keeps him locked in the attic so he won't wreak havoc on her daughter's birthday party. But he gets out... and wreaks havoc. But also solves a few of their problems. Amiable, fun and passes the time well.