Sailor Beware

This film begins with a sailor by the name of "Albert Tufnell" (Ronald Lewis) arriving at his home port in England to marry his bride "Shirley Hornett" (Shirley Eaton). With Albert is his fellow shipmate "Carnoustie Bligh" (Gordon Jackson) who will serve as his best man. Since the wedding is scheduled for the next day plans have been made for the two of them to stay in another house not far away. However, upon meeting the two sailors Shirley's mother "Emma Hornett" (Peggy Mount) decides that in order to keep a close eye on them that they should spend the night at her house instead. Not particularly concerned about where they sleep, both Albert and Carnoustie defer to Emma. Unforltunately, it isn't long until they come to regret this decision as they discover that she is terribly loud and bossy-and this creates all kinds of trouble for everyone concerned. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that, while I didn't have much interest in this film at first, it got pretty funny after about 20 minutes or so. I especially liked the performances of "Cyril Smith" (as Emma's husband "Henry Hornett") and Esma Cannon (as Henry's sister "Edie Hornett") who meekly tolerated the constant streams of criticisms from Emma in comic fashion. Be that as it may, while this movie may not have been a great comedy by any means, it was still entertaining in its own right and for that reason I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

With post-war demobilisation, young men coming home after a good many years, in some cases maybe a decade, in the armed forces, wanted to marry and settle down. However, after spending their formative adult years in a very different environment, they had outgrown the small suburban world of their parents. Beginning married life living with, or near, your in-laws was undesirable, but often unavoidable. Many marriages foundered at this point, others escaped through emigration. The situation in this film, although exaggerated, would have been familiar to the audience, who could go away and write their own sequels, as there is no solid resolution offered. The figure of the "Mother-in-law from Hell" is on the surface comic, but is actually tragic, we are shown ways out for everyone else, but she is trapped. The film is well made, and well acted. It is not The Magnificent Ambersons, nor was it meant to be, it has no pretensions to Art, makes no profound statements, but effectively illustrates one aspect of the human condition. Those involved in the making of this film would doubtless be surprised that it is still being watched, and appreciated, almost sixty years on. Anyone who recalls the era, or is interested in it, will not be disappointed.

Based on the play by Falkland L. Cary {sreenplay writer here as well}, Sailor Beware is one of those amiable British comedies from the 50s that let you while away a couple of hours without much call for thought. The premise is basically that Sailor Albert Tufnell is to be wed to the gorgeous Shirley Hornett, only trouble is is that his Mother-In-Law to be, Emma, is a battle axe of the highest order. Constantly interfering and convinced that nobody is good enough for her Shirley, Emma sets about making everyone's life a misery running up to the wedding day. Poor father of the bride Henry, best man Carnoustie Bligh, batty aunt Edie, and of course Albert himself; all of them are bossed about to within an inch of their respective lives. Will the wedding go ahead? Will a miracle happen and Emma finally keep her nose out of blossoming love? These are questions answered as the film comes to it's delightfully tidy conclusion. Featuring a towering performance from Peggy Mount as Emma and a very undervalued comic turn from Cyril Smith as Henry, Sailor Beware holds few surprises. But in that there is nothing wrong, for this is good honest entertainment not asking you to scratch the head and ponder about the story within. 6/10

In my opinion one of those lesser known comedies that seen advertised one would pass up.That would be a grate shame as there are some of Britain's classic 1950's comedy actors staring.Peggy mount steals the film she plays as always the "dragon" but as always plays it so well. Life as it was warts and all and a time of morals right or wrong which has passed by.

The title 'Sailor Beware!' suggest a service comedy, but it's really a domestic farce with a preponderance of females dominated by Peggy Mount (whose view of men is that "you can't reason with a man you've gotta train them"), while Gordon Jackson is actually seen sharing a bed with Ronald Lewis, with sweet little Esma Cannon described by Jackson as "the bride of the harem"; while only in the movies could Mount have such a fox for a niece as Joy Webster.

The transfer to the screen is pretty rudimentary so it comes as quite a shock to see that the lighting has been entrusted to Douglas Slocombe and that it was produced by Jack Clayton.