Ce sacré confrère

A fun film about barristers who have just begun their careers. Ian Carmichael plays Roger Thursby, who is hired on as a "pupil" (an associate) and immediately he is in court. He fumbles along through some little mishaps in court, but finds his way eventually. Its a great cast, including Richard Attenborough and Terry-Thomas, amongst others. I can imagine any lawyer in Britain or anywhere else smiling through this, recalling their first missteps before a judge. The film moves along well, and the characters are both likable and well realized. The title threw me, I thought it was about a bickering family (I bought it because Terry-Thomas, who actually has a minor role), but it is about the law. A fun, amusing film, especially recommended for anyone remotely related to the legal profession.

This is a delightful, gentle, warm and witty little piece of old England. Public school accents, sedate lives and endless good manners all provide a wonderful antidote to the trash Hollywood is currently creating at a million times the cost! The stars are worth watching just because of who they are...Ian Carmichael, Terry~Thomas, Dickie Attenborough, Nicholas Parsons and the incomparable John LeMesurier. Select a soggy November day in England, get a cup of cocoa, don the fluffiest slippers possible and watch this with complete escapist delight.

Another of the Boulting Brothers swipes at the British Establishment. This time it's the law that is the target and very funny it is, too. Once again, it's Richard Attenborough, Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas heading up a superb cast of British character players that includes Miles Malleson, John Le Mesurier, Eric Barker (winning a Best Newcomer British Academy Award), Raymond Huntley and the great Irene Handl who dominates the film's funniest scene which takes place, naturally, in court. Hugely popular at the time of its release, it isn't much revived now, more's the pity, as it is something of a classic of it's kind. Seek it out.

A gentle British comedy, from the days when laughter didn't need to be generated by expletives. A flawless cast with some of the most illustrious names in British film. Ian Carmichael should have received a knighthood, his services to comedy are second to none. Watch and enjoy.

The Boulting brothers never deny themselves even in comedies. They used to make very serious films dealing with social problems and vital events of universal interest, but gradually they moved over to comedies, and one of their comedies following this one was "Heavens Above!" with Peter Sellers as a priest in one of his best films. As always, their approach to the subject they are dealing with is deeply human, all their films are poignant studies of humanity, and this is no exception, although it deals with strict formalities at court and the difficulties with these that a young inexperienced lawyer encounters as he has to grope his way in total ignorance of what the rules are of the uncompromising formalities. Ian Carmichael is even more inept here than usual, but fortunately he has Richard Attenborough to help him - and one or other occasional lady. It's a great comedy and witty to the extreme, it's difficult to follow all the turns, but you will be rewarded in the end.