L'Admirable Crichton

This movie pokes fun at the English class system, using a shipwrecked cast as a backdrop. Kenneth More plays a typically English Butler with plenty of savvy, and reverses roles with his Master, Lord Loam, played rather nicely by Cecil Parker. More's character shows wit and some creativity in adverse circumstances, and is charmingly played. Kenneth More looks distinguished in a dinner jacket however on the island scenes, he actually was photographed from the waist up, to disguise the fact that he was wearing shorts to help him deal with the heat on location. Great movie, and one I would very much like to own a copy of. If anyone knows how I might obtain one, please get in touch. My e-mail is firehouse5@gmail.com.

Wow what a great film, I can't believe this isn't considered one of the great classics of all time! More is perfect as Crichton, super-butler (and inspiration for the Red Dwarf character), who takes charge when the nice(-ish) but (very) dim family he serves are shipwrecked. Lots of hilarity in the early stages - (especially the classy dialog between Crichton and the ship's captain - "Will she sink?", "Not unless the engine blows up" (BOOM) "What, like that?" - hilarious), then a really nicely worked role-reversal sequence after they have settled in to their island paradise (although the whole "guv"-"daddy" thing sounds a bit strained and weird). Some interesting ideas about people's roles in society, the importance of leadership and heirarchy, in a gorgeous looking movie, with beautiful people in lovely period/desert island clothing, stunning scenery and a great beachhouse rivalling Swiss Family Robinson's. All the characters blossom under the sun and question their own attitudes and status in life, and show some really eye-opening attitudes (for the time) as the blokes start getting frisky. Poor little Tweeny's predicament nearly had me in tears! Looks like it's heading for a sad ending but works out almost lovely, a really enjoyable, heartwarming adventure/romance yarn with a nice chunk of social commentary and toff-bashing thrown in. Thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes a bit of old-fashioned, old-world entertainment now and again.

Fabulous film with a moral to please all. Great cast, great story, great filming. One for everyone to enjoy and not as hammy as some of these older films. See it and judge for yourself !!

PARADISE ISLAND (UK title THE ADMIRABLE CRICHTON) is a Technicolor version of the old Barrie classic. Filmed by Rank at the height of its studio period, it stars Kenneth More in the eponymous role as the butler who manages to adapt to life on a desert island. More isn't the most obvious personality to play a butler - his breezy screen persona projected a more louche image than that expected of a gentleman in service - but he makes a good stab at the role. He is complemented in the film by Cecil Parker as his employer. A much underrated actor, Parker was extremely good at playing harassed males of a certain vintage - outwardly authoritative yet inwardly insecure. In this production it's clear that he cannot manage without Crichton. Director Lewis Gilbert handles familiar material with élan, making this a satisfying piece of entertainment.

In 1904 the Loam house is one of the most prodigious in all England. The head butler of the household is Crichton, who knows his place and is keen to keep the staff downstairs despite his labour-voting master's support of the absurd idea of all men as equal. On a cruise of the South Seas the family and Crichton become ship wrecked and the social standards that once controlled the families are no more and the castaways soon realise the value of a useful man.

I watched this by pure chance and, judging by the number of votes on imdb against this title, it appears that few other people have sought this film out. This is a retelling of J.M. Barrie's role reversal comedy and, although not without it's flaws, it is quite an enjoyable and thought provoking tale. The plot is simple in that the film looks at the class system in the UK and switches it in a situation where practicality and leadership qualities mean more than birthright. Sadly in the UK we have historically had a class system that has decided from birth who you will be when you grow up – if you're father was a Lord then you shall be too and so forth. That is the situation here and it is amusing to it switched when the island has no such system and eventually everyone settles into one based on merit and ability rather than birthright.

The film has a few digs at the ruling classes in the final 20 minutes, showing them as pompous and perhaps not as honourable as they should be, meanwhile Crichton lives up to the character given him by the film's title. It is actually quite sad when the film returns to England because in this one man you do get to see the crushing and enslaving effect that the class system has on those born into the lower reaches of it. The comedy is rarely hilarious but is amusing throughout – especially before the social switch occurs. It may feel a little old fashioned now but it is pretty light and enjoyable. If it does have a flaw it is that the jump between social status is sudden and not phased in slowly – I know the film had limited time but it was a little hard to swallow all at once. Also, on return to England the film loses a little of it's sharpness and enjoyment value.

Moore is perfectly cast as the unflappable butler Crichton he is perfect but as someone who knows his place, but also convinces as someone whom is a born leader regardless of birth right. Parker plays Loam spot on and the support cast are all well played if a little unmemorable in the odd spot.

Overall this is a quaint little film that makes a very good point. Although we are a classless society by comparison to the events in this film, class and birthright still play a big part in deciding what you'll become in later life in the UK. This is an amusing film with still a thoughtful message.