Alive and Kicking

Dame Sybil Thorndike, Kathleen Harrison, and Estelle Winwood are three governesses who escape from a retirement home in England and wind up on a small island off Ireland. There they meet Stanley Holloway, just returned from America. When he goes over a cliff into the sea, they take over his new-bought property and pass themselves off as his nieces. They have no money, so they wind up organizing a sweater industry. But there's a reckoning coming.

The move veers from the three ladies to fits of zaniness, over to beautiful scenic photography and then into gusts of stereotypical humor. It's all carried off in good form, even a subplot about young lovers Richard Harris and Olive McFarland. The three ladies appear too old to carry a movie, especially Miss Winwood, who always looked as if a strong wind would carry her away. No such thing! Dame Sybil, for whom Shaw has written SAINT JOAN, lasted until the age of 93 eighteen years later. The frail Miss Winwood held out until 1983, and 101 years of age; and the ever blowzy Miss Harrison lived to 103, in the year 1995.

No, the story isn't great - but the delivery is really quite good fun. Three elderly ladies, who are not yet ready to be consigned to the scrap heap, pinch a boat and escape from their retirement home. They alight on a tiny Irish island where they befriend the wealthy Stanley Holloway ("MacDonagh") and establish a thriving business with the locals knitting fine Aran sweaters. My personal favourite amongst the runaways was Estelle Winwood's "Mabel", but there are also amusing contributions from Dame Sybil Thorndike ("Dora") and Kathleen Harrison, who wasn't anywhere near her best, as "Rosie". What I had forgotten, too, was that Stanley Holloway had quite a good singing voice - though his delivery is a bit overly theatrical. Add some mischief and some bonhomie - especially with Russian fishing boat captain Eric Pohlmann, and we have an entertaining drama that shows the three having a lark - and that is contagious. Well worth a watch, this.

Light hearted and quite amusing in many parts, a pretty good product of its time. Reviewer malcolmgsw is a real miseryguts.

In an age when most movies are noisy, violent, oversexed, bloody and generally don't do much to provide an enjoyable experience, this old black and white one is gold. No violence, funny acting, memorable characters and a simple plot that keeps you rooting for the people in it. A very enjoyable hour and a half well spent, leaving me with a smile on my face.

Whimsical comedy about three old ladies who run away from a nursing home in London and end up on an island off the coast of Ireland. They find a deserted and pass themselves off as the nieces of the owner whom they believe to be dead. The local town rallies around the old ladies, especially after the start a cottage industry for the beautiful sweaters the townswomen knit from wool from local sheep. Far-fetched but delightful as the old ladies rediscover the joy of life and in being busy.

The legendary Sybil Thorndike stars with Estelle Winwood and Kathleen Harrison as the nieces. Stanley Holloway is the dead uncle, Richard Harris (film debut) and Olive McFarland are the lovers, John Salew is the attorney, and Marjorie Rhodes the lead townswoman. Beautiful location shooting adds a lot, and there's a lively rendition of the title song with Thorndike pound away on a piano.

A delight.