Something in the City

I was 4 in 1950 when this film was produced and 8 when we got our first TV when Richard Hearn was performing his "Mr Pastry" character on BBC TV children's hour (the only channel in those days before ITV was established in 1955).Of course I remember Hearn's slapstick style of comedy and it was typical of having only white Anglo-Saxon casts in 1950s TV films and lack of sophistication in story lines.Basically Hearn uses a poste restante address to obtain his mail and then retires after 25 years working in the City of London and for that service is awarded a clock which plays "Westminster Chimes".To get this clock home of course gives rise to slapstick opportunities like falling over two girls' skipping rope.Richard Hearn was always very well spoken, a trait which I noticed in the mid fifties when I saw his act.This film has the usual predictable slapstick comedy by Mr Pastry more at home in a circus.

His character has a generous nature and he ensures his friends are suitably rewarded when he contrives to extract from Gary Marsh (the boss of a newspaper) £5000 (less £400 for his friends) so that he can present the remaining £4600 to his impecunious and intended son in law so that his daughter can marry him.Remember what inflation has done to monetary values over 67 years!The in-laws especially the wife are nouveau riche, snobby and disdainful of others whom they perceive are less well off than themselves. Average and predictable 6/10.

This forgotten production was shown yesterday on British satellite TV channel Film24 who regularly air well-restored forgotten British films of the era.

Mr Pastry (as star Richard Hearne was better known) was primarily a children's entertainer but this film was made to appeal to all ages. His biggest rival for madcap frantic comedy of that era was Norman Wisdom who was a more versatile and talented performer but who inclined towards pathos and sentimentality. Mr Pastry was more Chaplinesque - a plucky little chap, deflater of the rich and pompous, quick thinking and quick on his feet. The story here is rather close to the Sherlock Holmes "Man with the Twisted Lip" but given a modern treatment. Like the Norman Wisdom vehicles, the popularity of the star allowed budgets for a good cast, reasonable script and good production values. In fact the biggest name in the film is uncredited, playing police constable was a young Stanley Baker.

William Ningle (Richard Hearne) has a double-life. While he heads to work each day dressed as a typical middle-class working man, he hasn't actually worked at the office in years. Instead, he changes chothing and sells paintings he has created on the street. He's successful enough that his family never notices...and he works hard to keep the pretense. However, one day through some misunderstandings, he is assumed to have been murdered...and the guy who supposedly did it is the street painter...himself! How does he extricate himself from this mess?

The story idea is original and very clever. My only big complaint is sometimes the film took gags and drug them out WAY too long...such as the clock or the fainting bits. So, comic timing is NOT the film's strength. And, the story itself goes on a bit too long. But it is a very likable movie and one that is worth seeing. I cannot help but wonder how much better the British company Eeling could have done this same story, as their films were a bit more polished and well-timed. Still, it is enjoyable and is a nice time passer.

"William Ningle" (Richard Hearne) who stopped working seven years ago has been continuing to leave his home (and wife) each morning. Once outdoors, he transforms from the pinstripe-suited City gent into a dishevelled looking pavement artist on London's Trafalgar Square. When the son of a newspaper tycoon seeks to wed his daughter, the father (Garry Marsh) decides to check on the suitability of his potential in-laws and so Hearne must juggle his twin persona to stay ahead of his pursuers - which, by now, also includes the police looking for a missing person... Once it's navigated the rather clunky opening scenes this film picks up speed quite quickly and although the humour - slapstick at times - is pretty gentle, it is still quite a fast paced little comedy with decent efforts from Marsh, George Merritt - as the totally befuddled police inspector - and a fleeting appearance from Dora Bryan making for a fun 75 minutes.

I saw this movie over fifty years ago when I was about six or seven and it still stays in my mind. The story was excellent. As I remember it the story was told mostly through action. Richard Hearne, who was always instantly recognizable as television's Mr Pastry, did a great job. I do not know if the film was made for television but it appeared superior to anything that I had seen on television at the time. Possibly I saw it on television after it had a run at theaters. For awhile Richard Hearne was one of British television's biggest stars, comparable to today's Mr. Bean. Sadly he has almost completely disappeared from memory along with an early golden age of British television in the 1950s.