The Mysterious Mr. Davis

The only English-language film by one of France's leading directors of the postwar era is a very poor man's 'Lieutenant Kije' with a very noisy score directed by John Reynders desperately trying to convince us how hilarious this all is (which it briefly is when a wild-eyed young Alastair Sim bursts in giving what is possibly the hammiest performance of his career as 'The Lunatic').

The lead, Henry Kendal, described in IMDb as an "immaculately stylish revue artiste" at first appears rather miscast as an unemployed family man whose finances are so desperate that the gas to their small drab rented flat has just been cut off and landlord pressing for the unpaid rent. However as the ingenious, amusing, almost plausible plot unfolds and pace increases, the wisdom of the casting becomes clear. Alastair Sim, in his 24th film since his first just 4 years earlier, plays a lunatic. A young Guy Middleton plays a meaner version of the character he went on to make his own.

This is a film version of a book and it shares, with film versions of stage plays, a well-sorted story. I think it would make a good am-dram stage play.

Rating? Check with Davis - he says 7

I watched today on TALKING PICTURES TV UK Freeview Ch81