All Over the Town

Made at Pinewood Studios, this British film was produced by a small film company that made just a dozen or so movies from 1949 to 1962. As with most such films and endeavors, the cast of "All Over the Town" doesn't have big name stars or even well-known supporting actors of the time. Most of the cast will hardly be recognized in the 21st century outside of the UK. The female lead, Sally Thorpe, is played by Sarah Churchill, the actress daughter of Winston Churchill. She had a respectable career as an actress, and had a good supporting role with Fred Astaire, Jane Powell and Peter Lawford in "Royal Wedding" of 1951. Overall, the ensemble of characters in this film does a fine job.

The story is set in a fictitious town on the English coast. The promo for the film plays up exposure of some corruption in the small town of Tormouth, but that is just a small part that serves as the climax to the story. The film is about a town native returning home after the war and getting his job back as the "star" reporter on the weekly Clarion newspaper. Such weekly papers were printed in small towns all across Canada, the U. S. A., England and many other European countries through the 20th century. With the coming of the Internet and rapid growth of electronic technology, many small papers went out of business by the early 21st century. Even large daily papers have declined as print news readership overall continues to decline.

Norman Wooland plays the returning veteran, Nat Hearn. Sarah Churchill's Sally Thorpe is the local reporter who had taken over for Nat when he went off to military service during the war. The plot is a good mix of light comedy, drama and a slowly developing love story. It portrays the type of reporting, news, and printing of the local nature that the big city newspapers don't provide - or even consider news. By the same token, the small towns and weekly papers are challenged to have much of real news to report. Changes occur after Nat's return and the death of the publisher of the town paper.

Very few films have been made with weekly newspaper production a core part of the story. So, this film has some added value for history and education. The small papers as well as the dailies in county seats for ages have been the official public records of local government actions and required pubic notices. As a former newspaperman, having worked on two daily newspapers, I particularly enjoyed the scenes showing some of the antiquated printing presses used in the past - including an old flatbed press and an ancient hand press.

This is a nice picture of the small-town press and its role and service in the community. Its regular fodder includes the vital statistics (birth, deaths), accidents and illnesses, local visits, social events, family items, legal notices, sports and club activities and reviewing the local theater production and covering the town council meetings.

Here are some favorite lines from this film.

Mr. Baines, "Glad to see you got back. But you've been long enough about it." Nat Hearn, "Yes, just tidying up the Orient, you know." Baines, "Uh, huh, this town needs a bit of tidying up too, come to that. But, uh, things are moving."

Mr. Baines, "Progress with taste - that's my motto. Progress with taste."

Mr. Vince, "You make him, miss. He'll listen to a skirt."

Sally Thorpe, "Why don't you chuck it and get out?" Nat Hearn, "Because it's not the answer. There's nothing wrong with the people. They're the same town that fought the war. All they want is someone to take an interest in their own affairs. Anything wrong with that?" Sally, "Nothing. Only I'm afraid you're in for a big disappointment." Nat, "Perhaps I am."

Sally Thorpe, "You're a bit of a mystery to me. You oughtn't be a nice person at all, but you are. Rather." Nat Hearn, "I just believe in people, that's all. Seems a pity you don't."

Nat Hearn, "Detail, Trumble, detail. Never despise detail. It's our meat, drink, bread, butter, salt, pepper and mustard."

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.)

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 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.