Left Right and Centre

This film was released to coincide with the 1959 General election.This gives an idea of the level of political satire prior to the arrival of TWTWTW on BBC TV.In fact the writers choose to become more involved in romantic conflict rather than political conflict,and it all turns about,excuse the pun,rather laboured.What makes this worse is the fact that there is an excellent supporting cast,including Gordon Barker in his last role.It has to be said that the two leads are pretty indifferent,and Alistair SIM only appears sporadically.Barker and Wattis have the best lines as the two party agents. Wattis are good as the party agents.

Ah England, the home of democracy, as seen in its elections and by-elections. And so we move our focus to a small English town where the Labour and the Tory candidates are involved in a straight fight for the seat. Taking the train down, Tory and TV celebrity Robert Wilcot finds himself seated next to a pretty young woman and they hit it off quite nicely; it is only after getting off the train and being photographed carrying her bags that he learns that Stella is none other than the Socialist candidate. Thus begins the campaign but both candidates are a touch smitten by one another and they cannot bring themselves to really attack the other – much to the chagrin of their respective campaign managers.

The last time I saw this film was on the day before polling day during the 2005 British election, shown I suppose to temper the constant coverage but it seemed to have little effect on my opinion of the film. Regardless of the real life context, this is nothing more that a rather slight romantic comedy that uses a by-election as a frame and, I must say, it doesn't use it as well as one would have hoped. The romance didn't convince me because the tow characters were not allowed much time to actually fall in love, so the script relies on a sudden, unconvincing infatuation to move the story along. The election campaign is delivered with a nice touch of humour while also making very gentle digs at the system, but it lacked a sharp edge that I hoped it would have liked. With neither of these strands doing anything that special, it does still manage to be amusing if not brilliant and it is entertaining in a rather British way of the period.

The cast are pretty good even if the material isn't totally there to make their lives easier. Carmichael is nicely comic while Bredin is OK but did give me the impression that she was a bit out of her depth with some of the people around her. The two don't have much chemistry and the film is a bit weak as a result. Sim has a small role but is quite funny and support from Barker and Wattis is pretty good. Nobody really stands out and nobody gives more than a workable performance – which matches the material pretty well.

Overall this is a nice film but it doesn't ever really manage to do more than that. It is amusing but it lacks a satirical edge that would have improved the scenario and the main romance never convinces, thus preventing the audience really getting into the film. Amusing and "nice" but nothing more.

Sub-Ealing fare with many stalwarts of the genre in evidence. This is the Flanders and Swann style of satire('It's not meant to be funny - it's gentle humour - like Last of the Summer Wine')having a go at the Lord who turns his stately home to a tourist attraction(e.g. proto-fascist Duke of Bedford who 'let the side down') that thinks if it gives the impression of attacks on both parties it is neutral. Of course it is a product of its time so all the clichés are respected. Expect men to be calculating, women to be silly, featherbrained things, toffs well meaning, workers drinking, salt of the earth types, etc.etc.The mark is mostly for seeing Sim, Wattis and Barker do their stuff.

Amusing by moments. Not worth staying up late for though.

A slightly interesting throw-back to a time when the British Labour party was not the contemptible and self-serving organisation that it is now.

Alastair Sim steals every scene he is in of course as he always does, unfortunately there are not very many of them. He is given top billing, and the only reason I watched this was that it was a make-weight in the Alastair Sim collection from Amazon, but in truth he is only in it by moments. Almost a fraud.

Ian Carmichael has made an entire career out of being a total bozo, and this film is no different from any of the others.

And the ending is totally predictable.

"Left,Right and Centre" is the kind of British satire that is watchable due to the sterling efforts of the cast. If no one well known was in this film, then it would be instantly forgettable. Ian Carmichael plays another character who strives to achieve his ambition, this time in politics. Alastair Sim plays his uncle and although slightly wasted, makes the most of his screen time. Richard Wattis and Eric Barker provide the solid support. The plot and the script aren't very distinguished but still OK. The film lacks the sort of biting satire that a masterpiece like "I'm Alright Jack" provided in droves.