No Kidding

Within 20 minutes of watching this film, which I can only describe as soppy and sugar coated, the notion of a married couple, played by Leslie Phillips and Geraldine McEwan, playing temporary surrogate parents to a motley crew of a large number of children from very different cultural & social backgrounds in a large, rambling country house invites disbelief. The children are frankly too good to be true, being simply caricatured as young people who are 'glacial' in terms of feelings and emotions. It's supposed to be a 'feel good' film where an ordinary, well intentioned middle class couple try to make a loving home, where liberal values of tolerance, love and care will create a happy community of young people, where everyone is taught duty, respect and a sense of responsibility. It has a strong cast, but sadly they're wasted, as the unfunny 'comedy scenes' are painful to watch, and despite the usual parade of British stereotypical characters bobbing in and out of the film, trying to enliven and inject life into the proceedings, it doesn't work, but simply makes the whole thing a tiresome experience. Give this film a miss!

A married couple (Phillips and McEwan) inherit a large old house, and quick as a wink, decide to turn it into a holiday home for rich kids. As the different children, and assorted staff descend, so the couple have to cope with adolescent yearnings, drunken domestics, troublesome teens and a busy-body alderman determined to secure the building for her own...

A strangely lack lustre effort from almost all concerned, with clunky juveniles, an intensely irritating McEwan, an unusually subdued Phillips and a shocking lack of pace. Only Irene Handl's delicious turn as the officious Miss Spicer, and Joan Hickson's gloriously bombed cook inject any interest. Most famous now as Agatha Christies's Miss Marple, it is indeed a crime of cinematic history that Hickson wasn't regularly nominated for best supporting actress gongs throughout her career. An unsung heroine of British moviedom if ever there was one, if you ask me!

It comes as quite a shock to see a lynx-eyed young Geraldine McEwan scampering about this twee little piece of whimsy made in the summer of 1960 by 'Carry On' producers Peter Rogers & Gerald Thomas.

As usual it has an amazing cast ranging from a teenaged Francesca Annis to Earl Cameron (now 102 years old)! But the real star is probably Birchens Spring, near Beaconsfield, where the exteriors were shot (the interiors were filmed at Pinewood).

Designed in the thirties by John Campbell for a South African diamond merchant named Rissik, and set in about twelve acres on a rise alongside the road to Amersham, it was shortly afterwards bought for £12,000 by Dirk Bogarde who renamed it Raiding Hall before later selling it to - Peter Rogers!

You'd have thought that with such a good team behind it and a great cast on set this old British comedy could not fail. Sadly it does in just about every way. Such a waste of so much comedy acting talent yet with an idea which was so promising. Unfortunately, virtually nothing works here and you are left with the impression the whole is like a car breakers' yard with so many bits which can be better used elsewhere. I usually love watching Leslie Phillips, Julia Lockwood, Irene Handl et al but with such a poor script they had no chance. A miss I'm afraid.

Before they concentrated on the Carry On franchise, producer Peter Rogers, director Gerald Thomas, write Norman Hudis, composer Bruce Montgomery et al made a series of comedies such as "No Kidding". David (Leslie Phillips) and Catherine (Geraldine McEwan) Robinson inherit Chartham Place, a large country home, and convert it into a holiday home for rich children. The children come from a cross section of families but, in general, all suffer neglect from their bust parents. They include an arrogant American brother and sister, the son of a social climbing scrap merchant, two sons of a Middle East King, two daughters of African politicans, the daughter of a Duke, a boy with a seriously ill mother and a sexy teenager with a vivid imagination (Julia Lockwood). As with comedies of this genre there is minimal plot. Christine encourages the children's "freedom", obviously until freedom goes too far. A matron (June Jago) feuds with the drunken cook (Joan Hickson, enjoying herself immensely) who, in turn, is abetted by the caretaker (Noel Purcell). An officious alderwoman (Irene Handl) has an eye on the property for a community center. Given these acting professionals the acting is good across the board. Geraldine McEwan shows the greatest range and its a pity that she isn't better known in North America. Overall this comedy can be recommended, it may not have belly laughs but will bring many smiles.