The Butler's Dilemma

In reply to two reviews, can I say that Richard Hearne, had a great deal of comic talent, but in this, for him, rather expensive production with a good song, was badly let down by an over complicated unfunny script which badly wasted his talents and those of Francis Sullivan and the rest of the cast

The credits of this surprisingly well-mounted vehicle for a young Richard Hearne don't mention it originally being a play; although it certainly feels like one. It also feels more thirties than forties with its plot about jewel thieves. (Were Wally Patch & Ronald Shiner not introduced in uniform you'd hardly be aware it was set in wartime; although it's considerably enhanced by a couple of foxy females in forties suits played by Judy Kelly and a fairly young Hermione Gingold as an aunt with a roving eye.)

Hearne as the young hero is throughout obliged to impersonate jewel thief 'Slippery Jim', alias the butler Chapman (who just happens to have white hair & a long droopy moustache like a certain Mr Pastry), but utterly fails to suggest two different people (a problem ironically exacerbated by the slick editing and unobtrusively convincing trick photography) but compensates for this with his extraordinary physical agility well served by the nimble direction and camerawork.

Richard Hearne was an extremely acrobatic comedian who was best know for his comic old man "Mr Pastry".It clearly owed much of its origins to the music hall.So today most of the comedy look rather quaint and outdated and sadly rather unfunny.The story is almost pointless and at times unintelligible.There are some very good actors who are spent very much wasting their time in this dross.There are fans of Hearne who will enjoy this film but they are rather a minority,however I am sure that they will enjoy watching their hero in is his prime.Otherwiseif you are one of the majority you will undoubtedly feel that your time was wasted.