Alive and Kicking

"Alive and Kicking" begins after three old women escape from their retirement homes in search of adventure. The coppers are looking for them and they hide out in a motor boat...and they accidentally motor off to sea. There, they are picked up by a Russian trawler and the sailors are quite nice and plan on taking them back to the Soviet Union. However, they are able to convince these Russians to release them to a nearby Irish island. There, they find a seemingly abandoned house and they take refuge there. Soon, however, the new owner shows and he welcomes them. But before they can work out where the three women are going to live, it seems that the man had a heart attack and tumbled into the sea. Now, with no relatives to inherit the place, the three decide they wouldn't really be hurting one if they pretend to be his nieces. Soon they are accepted by the islanders and are quite happy. However, how can they afford to live there? After all, with no money, there's no food!

The story isn't particularly deep but it is cute and enjoyable. My only complaint was the poor use of rear projection in the motor boat sequence. Other than that, it's nice viewing...despite the old ladies being a bit larcenous. If I had to sum of the movie in a word, I'd say...charming.

This is what I do. I search for gems in the mountains of movies produced since film began. This was an accidental gem I found tonight and dearly love.

After all, when you see a still photograph of three delightful old ladies and the title is "Alive and Kicking" you have to be curious.

Amazing little British comedy with a Walt Disney-esk flavor that is delightful and fun with nary a bad guy in it.

Sit down for about an hour and a half for delightful fun and witty humor. And of course, the ol' Irish standards of everything ending happily ever after and an Irish ballad or two.

PS Look for a very young Richard Harris that's almost unrecognizable.🤗

A rather exhausting farce probably inspired by 'The Ladykillers', showcasing three veteran actresses against a backdrop of Irish blarney.

Ironically Kathleen Harrison was eventually forced to come clean about having knocked six years off her age when 'outed' as a centenarian in 1992 (although that still made her by far the youngest of this trio); while very unusually Stanley Holloway actually ADDS five years to his real age by claiming to be 72 when he was really 67!

Richard Harris in his film debut begins as he will continue for the next forty years by being an abrasive young lover; all the appeal this pair musters residing in the charming Olive McFarland.

Dame Sybil Thorndike, Kathleen Harrison, and Estelle Winwood are three governesses who escape from a retirement home in England and wind up on a small island off Ireland. There they meet Stanley Holloway, just returned from America. When he goes over a cliff into the sea, they take over his new-bought property and pass themselves off as his nieces. They have no money, so they wind up organizing a sweater industry. But there's a reckoning coming.

The move veers from the three ladies to fits of zaniness, over to beautiful scenic photography and then into gusts of stereotypical humor. It's all carried off in good form, even a subplot about young lovers Richard Harris and Olive McFarland. The three ladies appear too old to carry a movie, especially Miss Winwood, who always looked as if a strong wind would carry her away. No such thing! Dame Sybil, for whom Shaw has written SAINT JOAN, lasted until the age of 93 eighteen years later. The frail Miss Winwood held out until 1983, and 101 years of age; and the ever blowzy Miss Harrison lived to 103, in the year 1995.

In an age when most movies are noisy, violent, oversexed, bloody and generally don't do much to provide an enjoyable experience, this old black and white one is gold. No violence, funny acting, memorable characters and a simple plot that keeps you rooting for the people in it. A very enjoyable hour and a half well spent, leaving me with a smile on my face.