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Vacances sur ordonnance

Original title: Last Holiday
  • 1950
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 28m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
2.3K
YOUR RATING
Vacances sur ordonnance (1950)
Dark ComedyComedyDramaRomance

When a lonely, unappreciated farm-equipment salesman discovers he has only a few weeks to live, he withdraws his savings for a final holiday at a "posh" resort.When a lonely, unappreciated farm-equipment salesman discovers he has only a few weeks to live, he withdraws his savings for a final holiday at a "posh" resort.When a lonely, unappreciated farm-equipment salesman discovers he has only a few weeks to live, he withdraws his savings for a final holiday at a "posh" resort.

  • Director
    • Henry Cass
  • Writers
    • J.B. Priestley
    • J. Lee Thompson
  • Stars
    • Alec Guinness
    • Beatrice Campbell
    • Kay Walsh
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.3/10
    2.3K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Henry Cass
    • Writers
      • J.B. Priestley
      • J. Lee Thompson
    • Stars
      • Alec Guinness
      • Beatrice Campbell
      • Kay Walsh
    • 41User reviews
    • 17Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos4

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    Top cast44

    Edit
    Alec Guinness
    Alec Guinness
    • George Bird
    Beatrice Campbell
    Beatrice Campbell
    • Sheila Rockingham
    Kay Walsh
    Kay Walsh
    • Mrs. Poole
    Grégoire Aslan
    Grégoire Aslan
    • Gambini
    • (as Coco Aslan)
    Jean Colin
    Jean Colin
    • Daisy Clarence
    Muriel George
    Muriel George
    • Lady Oswington
    Brian Worth
    Brian Worth
    • Derek Rockingham
    Esma Cannon
    Esma Cannon
    • Miss Fox
    Bernard Lee
    Bernard Lee
    • Inspector Wilton
    Sidney James
    Sidney James
    • Joe Clarence
    Campbell Cotts
    • Bellinghurst
    Moultrie Kelsall
    Moultrie Kelsall
    • Sir Robert Kyle
    Eveline Kirkwood-Hackett
    • Miss Hatfield
    • (as Mme. Kirkwood-Hackett)
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    • Chalfont
    Eric Maturin
    Eric Maturin
    • Wrexham
    Helen Cherry
    Helen Cherry
    • Miss Mellows
    Harry Hutchinson
    • Michael (The Waiter)
    Hal Osmond
    Hal Osmond
    • Trade Union Man
    • Director
      • Henry Cass
    • Writers
      • J.B. Priestley
      • J. Lee Thompson
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews41

    7.32.2K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    9nicholas.rhodes

    Quaint and original but WICKEDEST Ending in Cineama History

    Absent for years in Europe on both TV and Video, I finally managed to acquire this one on a VHS tape from the US. A man learns he has a short time to live and decides to make the most of it by living it up in a luxury hotel. His life suddenly becomes far more interesting, makes more money than ever before and luck generally smiles him in the face. I remember seeing it about Thirty years ago and wondered how a new viewing would affect me. There were one or two disappointments, I had a memory of the film being rather more romantic than it actually is ( nothing much actually happens on this side ) and parts of the film are rather 'chatty'. This said the overall story is quite original. The film captures that now long-lost atmosphere of a luxury 1950's English hotel in the bright sunshine presumably situated in Devon or Cornwall (as we see palm trees in the garden. There are many well-known actors and the script is quite original to say the least. Another of J.B. Priestley's stories 'An Inspector Calls' was also made on film and is actually very good, even better than 'Last Holiday'. Nevertheless, the haunting theme music (solo fiddle) and thedécors are A1. Picture and sound quality are very good for the time (1950) and I am surprised that the film is not readily available on VHS and DVD everywhere! Of course, Alec Guinness was a great actor and his performance here is totally up to standard. If the romantic side of it all had been pushed just a little further the film would have been perfect for me ! The ending of the film is the Wickedest and most unexpected in the history of cinema !
    10albee-2

    Great story, excellent cast, the film sticks with you.

    A poignant, bitter-sweet comedy that drives home its points in clever, subtle ways. Surprisingly, for a film 50 years old, the acting, direction and story line keep it fresh and timely. Alec Guiness "made his bones" in excellent early films such as this and gave us a sneak preview of the greatness that was to come.
    9grdndms

    A Sparkling Duo: Sir Alec and Kay Walsh

    This film happen to be at the top of my all time favourites.

    I always thought that Alec and Kay had a sparkle when acting together..."Oliver Twist";"Last Holiday";"The Horses Mouth";"Tunes of Glory"...I did not mention "Scrooge" because they did not appear together in any scene.

    It is interesting to note that if two actors have a close rapport then their performance reflects this very well.

    In "Tunes of Glory" a number of scenes were cut that had both actors in it. I remember one scene Still had Jock and Mary in bed together. Maybe it was deemed unnecessary and the censor would have made it an "A" movie instead of a "U".

    I would greatly appreciate any comments you may have concerning these two actors as I am writing a book about British Film Actresses and a large section will be devoted to Kay Walsh.

    Thank you,

    MCG
    9Goingbegging

    Micro class-system

    A small-town salesman, George Bird, learns that he is suffering from an incurable condition, leaving him only weeks to live. With no family or friends to care for, he decides to spend his modest savings on his first and last stay in a grand hotel.

    The other guests soon notice that he is new to hotel life, and react to him in different ways - some disdainful, some intrigued and friendly. These guests reflect the old English class-system, with its myriad of sub-classes, starting to die out by 1950, largely because of the left-wing postwar government that had been so championed by J.B. Priestley, author of this screenplay.

    Before long, Bird's life seems to be opening out, with job-offers, investment opportunities, even a chance of love. A bitter irony of course, as these opportunities will never be enjoyed (or so we are to assume).

    The comfortable hotel life gets a jolt when the staff are suddenly called-out on strike, instantly shaking-up the class-system, as all the guests have now got to try to pitch-in and help, as best they can. This provides for a number of accidental meetings that move the plot forward dramatically. And the effect on Bird's humdrum life, suddenly turned roller-coaster, is dramatic indeed.

    Interesting to see the yet-undiscovered Sid James as a dodgy gambler, and David McCallum's father (also David) on the violin, beginning and ending the story with a simple but curiously haunting theme.

    For a film that has given so much pleasure - check the other IMDb reviews - it may seem spoilsport to suggest that Alec Guinness does not quite carry conviction as such a small and narrow character as Bird. This is someone who just earns his daily pittance and then goes home to read the paper and smoke his pipe. For this role, Guinness simply looks and sounds too cultivated, too sociable, altogether too biddable. (Ironically there was a character actor called Norman Bird, who would have been perfect!)
    9bkoganbing

    Universal message

    Last Holiday contains the first really dramatic performance by Alec Guinness. It's also the first time he's carrying a film as per the billing on the strength of his abilities. It's one beautiful performance in a picture with a universal message.

    Alec Guinness plays your British every man who having no wife, no family, and no close relatives is likely to be remembered by very few when he passes on and then for a short time. He's given the news that the grim reaper is close, it might be a matter of a few weeks or a few months. What to do but go out and just enjoy things while you can.

    So he packs off and stays at the small but posh Regal Hotel, a seaside resort much prized by the British vacationers. And he has some phenomenal luck there, winning huge poker pots, longshot horse racing bets coming in. He even finds some love with hotel housekeeping manager Kay Walsh. But how to tell the new friends he's made what is in store for him?

    J.B. Priestley wrote the original script and in my opinion should have been a candidate for all kinds of awards. It is direct and simple and never maudlin. Guinness got the character down perfectly. And the ending is truly ironical.

    Which must have pleased and singed director Henry Cass a bit. Back in the 30s when Guinness was starting in the profession he tried out for a stage production directed by Cass who told him in no uncertain terms he was a no talent bum. This comes from a biography of Guinness. Kind of like Phil Rizzuto who was told he'd never be a ballplayer by Casey Stengel and then having him as his manager on the Yankees after becoming an All Star.

    One should watch Last Holiday together with Grand Hotel and note some of the similarities and the differences with Lionel Barrymore and Alec Guinness both portraying men under a death sentence.

    I think the message is the same, you never know when you're checking out so live accordingly.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The film includes cast members who cropped up in various Alec Guinness films. Amongst them are Sidney James, Ernest Thesiger and Kay Walsh.
    • Goofs
      Bird states that he made about 9 Pounds a week. This is about 470 Pounds per annum. When his manager is trying to get him to stay he first offers to raise his salary to 400 Pounds p.a.
    • Quotes

      George Bird: How do you keep smiling with a stiff upper lip?

    • Connections
      Remade as Vacances sur ordonnance (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      The Beggar's Theme
      (uncredited)

      Composed by Francis Chagrin

      [played on violin by busker]

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    FAQ14

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 27, 1950 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Last Holiday
    • Filming locations
      • Luton, Bedfordshire, England, UK(Shopping parade and Doctor's office)
    • Production company
      • Watergate Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 28m(88 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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