Sailor Beware

With post-war demobilisation, young men coming home after a good many years, in some cases maybe a decade, in the armed forces, wanted to marry and settle down. However, after spending their formative adult years in a very different environment, they had outgrown the small suburban world of their parents. Beginning married life living with, or near, your in-laws was undesirable, but often unavoidable. Many marriages foundered at this point, others escaped through emigration. The situation in this film, although exaggerated, would have been familiar to the audience, who could go away and write their own sequels, as there is no solid resolution offered. The figure of the "Mother-in-law from Hell" is on the surface comic, but is actually tragic, we are shown ways out for everyone else, but she is trapped. The film is well made, and well acted. It is not The Magnificent Ambersons, nor was it meant to be, it has no pretensions to Art, makes no profound statements, but effectively illustrates one aspect of the human condition. Those involved in the making of this film would doubtless be surprised that it is still being watched, and appreciated, almost sixty years on. Anyone who recalls the era, or is interested in it, will not be disappointed.

In my opinion one of those lesser known comedies that seen advertised one would pass up.That would be a grate shame as there are some of Britain's classic 1950's comedy actors staring.Peggy mount steals the film she plays as always the "dragon" but as always plays it so well. Life as it was warts and all and a time of morals right or wrong which has passed by.

In contrast to the previous commentator, I found this film delightful from beginning to end. A splendid fast and furious script with some rare tear-jerking comedy from excellent performances all-round. This really had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next farce. A simple straightforward domestic story line of newlyweds and a sailors life with mother-in-law Peggy Mount, most definitely at her best in this rare and not to be missed 50's classic. The foreseeable doom of marrying the daughter of a notorious battle axe and living next door becomes all too much for the young sailor who accompanied by his "best man" friend try to tackle ever more confusing situations. This is a film that in its own way describes the foibles of everyday 1950's life. See it if you get a chance as its rarely screened.

This film begins with a sailor by the name of "Albert Tufnell" (Ronald Lewis) arriving at his home port in England to marry his bride "Shirley Hornett" (Shirley Eaton). With Albert is his fellow shipmate "Carnoustie Bligh" (Gordon Jackson) who will serve as his best man. Since the wedding is scheduled for the next day plans have been made for the two of them to stay in another house not far away. However, upon meeting the two sailors Shirley's mother "Emma Hornett" (Peggy Mount) decides that in order to keep a close eye on them that they should spend the night at her house instead. Not particularly concerned about where they sleep, both Albert and Carnoustie defer to Emma. Unforltunately, it isn't long until they come to regret this decision as they discover that she is terribly loud and bossy-and this creates all kinds of trouble for everyone concerned. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, while I didn't have much interest in this film at first, it got pretty funny after about 20 minutes or so. I especially liked the performances of "Cyril Smith" (as Emma's husband "Henry Hornett") and Esma Cannon (as Henry's sister "Edie Hornett") who meekly tolerated the constant streams of criticisms from Emma in comic fashion. Be that as it may, while this movie may not have been a great comedy by any means, it was still entertaining in its own right and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Make time to see this classic British film and see the many stars that would become household names in the 60's and 70's. Peggy Mount dominates the film as the 'dragon' as only she could, stealing every scene she is in, with admirable support from her fellow cast members. This film takes you back to a time when your neighbours were part of your family and your doors were never locked as you had nothing to fear. Portraying what was good and decent in a time when the war was still a recent memory, indeed some rationing was still a part of life, this film shows what was expected of people, respect each other and abide by their standards. Other cast members went on to greater things eg Gordon Jackson{Upstairs Downstairs, The Professionals} and Shirley Eaton and Geoffrey Keen became part of James Bond folklore.