Associated British. Director J. Lee Thompson; Producer Hamilton G. Inglis, J. Lee Thompson; Screenplay T.J. Morrison, John Whiting, J.L. Hodson; Camera Gilbert Taylor; Editor Gordon Pilkington; Music Laurie Johnson; Art Director Robert Jones
Eric Portman
Celia Johnson
Hugh Griffith
Janette Scott
John Fraser
Rachel Roberts
J.B. Priestley's homely and colorful yarn of a thirdrate touring company makes a pedestrian musical. Much of the characterization and writing quality of the original is lost in the conventional screenplay. An old-fashioned story line, without surprise twists, is not aided by the moderate quality of the score.
Opening shows some promise. In three short cameos it depicts the way in which Eric Portman, Celia Johnson and John Fraser throw in their lot with the Dinky Doos concert party, who are out of funds and facing disbandment. Johnson provides the cash to keep them in business and the rest of the film describes their unhappy experiences playing No. 3 dates to empty houses, until Janette Scott, the youthful star of the company, and Fraser get their big West End chance.
Scott makes a refreshing and appealing showing as the concert party star with ambitions. Fraser also turns in a sincere performance as a composer-accompanist, but it's also hard to accept his music as so good the publishers would be competing for it. Joyce Grenfell makes a typical contribution as a wealthy admirer.
(Color) Widescreen. Extract of a review from 1957. Running time: 105 MIN.
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