Poet's Pub

Eric Linklater's affected effort at wit and sophistication seldom resulted in anything but qualified and superficial nonsense, and this is a typical example. Everything and everyone appears to be serious but no one is, the plot appears to be complicated and screwed up, but it is all about trifles of no sense. The dialog appears to be brilliant in splendour and intelligence, but it is all affected make-believe of silly nonsense, and silliness is the main character of the whole show. The performance is saved to some degree by James Robertson Justice, whose imposing appearance used to grace every film he was in, and Derek Bond is never as silly as he seems but actually tries to make a contribution. The music is the worst of all, bits and pieces of all kinds of truncated tunes, and it is not even funny, just silly all the way, while Rona Anderson is the only one who in spite of all makes the film worth watching.

In 1950 Rank had a ten million pound overdraft,and it was films like this that largely contributed to it.The film is shapeless and disjointed with characters acting in totally unexplained ways.Derek Bond is appointed hotel manager because he complained!A woman is forcibly kissed,but she likes it!Even the appearance of Joyce Grenfell and James Robertson Justice fail to raise the film above mediocrity.

Wonderful film. Please could somebody add Edward Rigby's name to this film, and to his own list of films, as I've just watched it, and can say for certain that he's one of the villagers sitting in a row, laughing, watching the Pageant, near the end. I've added it to his Wikipaedia Page. I believe this hasn't before been noticed by anyone.

It is rather unfortunate that I know so little about Director Frederick Wilson's work - he does a magnificent job of directing this exquisite screwball comedy that brims with poetical quotes, garments from the days of chivalry, a most handsome leading couple, acting of the highest order both in terms of diction and of naturalistic delivery, and absolutely delightful cinematography that brings out the beauty of the English countryside and local traditions... including a pub that sees the convergence of persons from all walks of life, including a thief.

That said, love looms large as the loftiest consideration, and the poet cum publican played by handsome Derek Bond is more than perfectly matched by the lovely English rose, Rona Anderson, to me one of the most beautiful and elegant women ever.

Add to the inventive and fast-moving script by Diana Morgan the presence of the great James Robertson Justice - one of the great voices of British cinema - and the flighty Joyce Grenfell teaching others to dance and playing the queen, and you have a glorious dish that deserves to be savored and revisited.

I had a wonderful time watching it.

This opens up with a quite a fun exchange between poet "Saturday Keith" (Derek Bond) - "Frankly, sir, I'm lost for words" and literary critic "Prof. Benbow" (James Robertson Justice) - "I know, sir, I've read your works..." that rather sets the tone for this light-hearted post-war comedy set in a rustic inn that is struggling to make ends meet. The not-so-hot poet is, rather imprudently, made the manager of this establishment and as he gradually falls for "Joanna" (Rona Anderson) - the daughter of his nemesis - what ensues is a rather entertainingly prickly love story that also finds itself embroiled in a little kidnapping intrigue - and, the mystery of a secret room! I always found that Joyce Grenfell could light up the screen just by smiling, and though that's just about all she does here, she and JRJ do just about enough to keep Eric Linklater's jolly whimsy enjoyable for eighty minutes with some borderline farce and silliness. No, you will not remember watching it half an hour after it's done, but it is still worth a watch to see some true professionals make a small silk purse from a bit of a sow's ear.