Kipps

Michael Redgrave stars in one of his perfect roles as the draper Kipps who rises through the class system, ready to better himself and take his place in the world.

It's a steady and unremarkable tale, directed by Carol Reed and adapted by Sidney Gilliat from the novel by HG Wells. But despite the fairly routine story, it is livened up by performances by Phyllis Calvert and Diana Wynyard, both names which appeared regularly in British cinema period pieces.

'Kipps', later remade as the musical 'Half a Sixpence' with Tommy Steele, is typically English, and a typical rags to riches piece. Done well, directed with interest, but perhaps a little overlong.

One of Michael Redgrave's earliest screen triumphs was in the title role in Kipps. The story is from an H.G. Wells novel and it's semi-autobiographical. Like our protagonist Wells came from humble circumstances and was taken in and trained as a draper's assistant. Wells hated every minute of it and took some literary revenge against his former employers in this novel. He became a convert to socialism in those years.

Kipps is a man of humble origins who suddenly out of nowhere he inherits a modest fortune. Suddenly everything he's ever wanted in life seems attainable. Including upper class girl Diana Wynyard who steershim to her solicitor brother Michael Wilding who might est be described as a blue chip hack. Breeding, but no real brains, the polar opposite of Redgrave.

The polemics are kept to a minimum and this film's greatest asset is the direction of Carol Reed and the engaging characters he creates including most especially Redgrave. Another good character is Phyllis Calvert the childhood sweetheart of Redgrave who has common sense

The musical Half A Sixpence was created from this story and while the boisterous style of Tommy Steele is miles different from Redgrave, both tell the story well ad emphasize different aspects of the protagonist..

Kipps is a well crafted and entertaining film.

It's a simple tale about a simple man, it was H.G.Wells' first novel, but it was a success, and the film takes good care of all the novel's assets, especially the characters - Carol Reed was always among the best in making actors create characters with some convincing depth. On the other hand, the lacks of the film are also entirely due to the lacks of the novel. What saves the film are the two women characters, Phyllis Calvert and Diana Wynyard, each other's opposites but both adorable, Phyllis for her honest sincerity and rustic simplicity, and Wynyard for her overwhelming beauty and style. She always made amazing appearances on screen, and here grown in the years to some maturity she is striking to some almost breathtaking degree; and although the intrigues of her family lead to a disastrous crisis, she is the one who doesn't lose her face, while all the others do. The character of poor simple Kipps (or Cuyps) had a very difficult choice indeed between the two, but Michael Redgrave makes the best of it and is convincing enough. It was remade 25 years later as a musical called "Half a Sixpence" with Tommy Steele as the singing Kipps, a sumptuous wedding cake of a glittering film with splendid music, but the music is outstanding enough here as well.

Kipps (an excellently cast and believable 'nice' guy Michael Redgrave) gets told the above at the beginning - and says it to himself at the end of this film. It gives an example of the era and mindset of this quaint period fable.

From a novel by (a less than usual subject normally associated with) H G Wells, this enchanting piece of sub Dickensian clash-of-the-classes is rich in period detail, is at times witty but generally unenthralling fluff. Interestingly, directed by one Carol Reed, only 8 years before his mega-classic The Third Man, Kipps looks twenty years older in style - and quality, than his later classic. Whether that was budgetary, or intentional or simply lacking the brilliant cinematography of Robert Krasker, it shows to the point of being almost incomparable.

Kripps is a dreamy draper in Edwardian England, who believes he has a higher calling in life and through an assorted set of not very adventurous jobs and relationships he attempts to better himself, but finds he cannot.

The UK release is too long and the US version at under 90mins might find more favour. As a rainy afternoon time-waster with lashings of nostalgia it does hit the spot, though. As in a cosy, fireside scene, it's a comfortable fable like 'hot buttered muffins and tea'.

Remade as Half a Sixpence, it probably did need the extra music and dance (and Technicolour) to make it sparkle and have a wider public appeal.

The Remarkable Mr. Kipps or Kipps, depending on how you might see it listed, is a wonderful feel-good soap for both men and women of all ages. With Gary Cooper like simplicity, Michael Redgrave gives a Mr. Deeds-like performance as a young man who suddenly inherits a sizeable amount of money. This money only makes his life more miserable than it was before. And, in addition, he now has to choose between a "lady" and a down to earth girl from his home town. Of course, we can all see where this is going, but it is the trip, not the ultimate destination that makes the film so memorable. A must-see.