Castle in the Air

The screenplay by Edward Dryhurst. Based on a play by Alan Melville. I would love to see the play.

Earl of Locharne (David Tomlinson), his two devoted servants Boss Trent (Helen Cherry), and Menzies (Ewan Roberts) are having trouble keeping the old castle economically afloat. Adding to the mix is that the castle is probably going to be requisitioned by the government.

Hopefully, to save the day a distant relative, Mrs. Clodfelter Dunne, is interested in purchasing the castle. Throw in a resident ghost Ermyntrude (Patricia Dainton) and we have a making of a comedy of misunderstandings and what-not.

Do not miss Margaret Rutherford in this play the movie "Blithe Spirit" (1945.)

"Castle in the Air" is a clever British comedy. It stars David Tomlinson as a man who owns a large manor home...but simply cannot afford to keep it. However, two possibilities for dealing with it arise. First, a beaurocrat tells him that the government is considering requisitioning the place...meaning he'll probably only get a fraction of what it's worth. Second, a lady from the States arrives and says she's considering buying it. So, it's up to the Earl to focus on its best qualities around the lady as well as convince the beaurocrat that the place is a falling down dump. And, then there's the ghost...it's a nice ghost...but a ghost nevertheless. The craziest part of all this is that two women want this Earl...and it's hard to imagine even one!!

This is a clever little comedy....not a laugh out loud one but more of a cute slice of life film. Well acted and enjoyable throughout.

By the way, the American lady did not sound the least bit American. Sometimes the actress sounded very Canadian...others she sounded almost British...but she never sounded like a lady from Utah!

This is one of the few British films I just did not enjoy. Perhaps the humor went over my head? The film is pleasant but dull.

Had Margaret Rutherford had more scenes I would have probably enjoyed it.

'Castle in the Air' was practically forgotten for a long time, and still is not that well known. While it is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, it is a nice way to pass the time if with not enough for it to be a personal favourite or watched over and over.

The cast are definitely the reason to see 'Castle in the Air' and they are the best thing about it. Margaret Rutherford's splendidly dotty performance steals the show and Patricia Dainton makes the most of her role. Helen Cherry is very charming and it was a shame that she didn't make it bigger. Pre-'Mary Poppins' and 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' David Tomlinson may be unconvincing as a Scot but he has the authority and also the lightness for his role and is always in keeping with the film's tone.

It looks attractive and atmospheric, it is not a cinematic-looking film but looked like it was made with skill and not in an amateur way. The music may not be classic standard but it has a pleasant energy and sounds appealing. Throughout 'Castle in the Air' has a cosy charm and gentle wit, it is not dull and it makes sense on the whole. The direction is competent.

However, 'Castle in the Air' drags slightly in the middle and has an over-stuffed and muddled ending. It also tries to do a little too much genre-wise and in a way that while coherent it doesn't quite come together.

Parts at times feel tossed in and don't add as much to everything as much as they should, or are just about necessary but not enough is done with them.

Summing up, nice enough and worth watching, a decent time-passer if you will, but not much more than that. 6/10 Bethany Cox

The Earl Of Locharne (David Tomlinson) is an impoverished Scottish laird who rents out his castle as a bed and breakfast. He relies on his assistant Bess Trent (Helen Cherry) for practical matters and she, in turn, is in love with him. One of his tenants is Miss Nicholson (Margaret Rutherford) who is a genealogist convinced that the Earl is the true King Of Scotland. The castle is also haunted by a mischevious ghost of Ermyntrude (Patricia Dainton). The action starts went two visitors come to the castle. Rich American divorcee Mrs. Clodfelter Dunne (Barbara Kelly) claims a Scottish heritage and is interested in buying the castle. Meanwhile National Coal Board official Mr. Phillips (Brian Oulton) is interested in requisitioning the castle as a rest home for miners. Assorted character actors (A.E. Matthews as a disgruntled tenant, Ewan Roberts as a butler and Clive Morton as an adjacent landowner) round out the cast. Obviously Mrs. Dunne competes with Miss Trent for the Earl's affection and with Mr. Phillips for the castle. Although this is a relatively modest effort I enjoyed it significantly. The young David Tomlinson plays a more adult character than his usual type as a "silly ass" Englishmen. I wasn't familiar with Helen Cherry, primarily a stage actress who was the real life wife of Trevor Howard, but she is attractive and charming. While I had often seen Brian Oulton over his long film career it was usually in one scene comedic character roles. It was Pleasant to see him in a much larger role with a greater range of emotion. Both Barbara Kelly and Patricia Dainton, like all the players, seemed to be enjoying themselves in the film. A special note on Margaret Rutherford who is single handedly worth the price of admission. The scene where she drags the Earl and Mrs. Dunne off to a meeting of the supporters for the Earl's claim to the throne of Scotland is delightful. Technical credits are good but modest, given the funding limits on British quota quickies of the period. All things considered a very pleasant way to spend time.