Henry Wrigley (Richard Hearne) is happy writing stories for a children's' comic. Then he meets Miss Honey (Dame Margaret Rutherford), who encourages him to go into minor crime.Henry Wrigley (Richard Hearne) is happy writing stories for a children's' comic. Then he meets Miss Honey (Dame Margaret Rutherford), who encourages him to go into minor crime.Henry Wrigley (Richard Hearne) is happy writing stories for a children's' comic. Then he meets Miss Honey (Dame Margaret Rutherford), who encourages him to go into minor crime.
- Marion
- (as Frances Rowe)
- Accident Policeman
- (as Francis de Wolff)
- Police Officer at MacAlister's Office
- (uncredited)
- Workman
- (uncredited)
- Good samaritan
- (uncredited)
Featured reviews
Wrigley is living a sort of mundane existence where he receives little credit from his newspaper bosses and he thinks little of his own creation. He is totally unaware that a group of children and one elderly fan, Miss Honey (Margaret Rutherford), use his stories as a model to live life by. One day, Miss Honey introduces herself and Wrigley is transformed into living for the same ideals as Miss Honey and his own creation, Miss Robin Hood.
The plot isn't really important. Miss Honey and Wrigley team up to snatch an old recipe from a whiskey manufacturer. A recipe that was swiped from Miss Honey's family years before. Throughout the film, Miss Honey and Mr. Wrigley battle big business, and the management at the newspaper. They fight for what they believe in and making money is not one of them. Subtle little things, like Miss Honey's charm with the pigeons, constantly remind the viewer of the pure ideals of a child and how they are superior to the views of the world of an adult.
Miss Rutherford is a true joy. What a wonderful eccentric she was, and like Miss Honey (and Miss Robin Hood) the world can use more just like them.
Margaret Rutherford (Miss Honey) and Richard Hearne (Henry) are both good, while it's cool to see James Robertson Justice and Reg Varney, pre-'On The Buses' of course, involved in their respective roles; albeit very minorly in Varney's case.
The cinematography is impressive given the year this was released, but I just don't feel like the plot meshes all that well - it feels forcibly thrown together, without much logic. I guess they focused more on the comedy, which I can respect.
Despite the short run time, I was happy to see the film end. Not for me.
When the new owner of the Newspaper decides to drop Miss Robin Hood, the writer storms out of his job.All seems bleak until Miss Honey (Rutherford) appears, an eccentric elderly lady who runs a home for orphaned kids (?) on Hampstead Heath.She insists that only he can help her against the evil Macallister.After reading how Miss Robin Hood can crack open safes,she's convinced that Wrigley can help her retrieve a secret family recipe used in "Honeycup", a scotch based drink with an extra special ingrediant that causes a sensational feeling of wellbeing, from the Macallister (James Robertson Justice).Wrigley unwittingly agrees. The ingrediant is stolen from the Macallister's safe and Wrigley finds himself caught up in an exciting game of cat and mouse with the Macallister, Scotland Yard and the Newspaper Editor.
Great performances from the kids,Hearne, Rutherford, Dora Bryan and an unusually playful Robertson Justice. Sid James also makes an early appearence as Miss Honey's driver. Surely a classic destined for DVD release?
Did you know
- TriviaTheatrical movie debut of Reg Varney (Dennis).
- GoofsWhen Lord Ottorbourne sends for Mr Wrigley after reading the Teenager, a host of characters call up a spiral stairway with more office staff leaning over and calling upwards. The topmost actor leans over the staircase too soon and ducks back away. They then lean over at the correct time.
- Quotes
Sue: Daddy?
Henry Wrigley: Yes, poppet?
Sue: You know I like to help you with your work.
Henry Wrigley: Oh, but you do. Any suggestions?
Sue: Well, in this week's for instance, Miss Robin Hood says "Golly, here's the police"
Henry Wrigley: Yes, she seems to say that every week, doesn't she?
Sue: Well, that part's all right. It's just that well, we don't say "golly" any more.
Henry Wrigley: Oh, what do you say?
Sue: Anything, like "crumbs" or "gosh"
Henry Wrigley: You mean "golly" is considered old-fashioned?
Sue: Well, not really I suppose... Babs Henshawe says "golly", and she's hockey captain
Henry Wrigley: That would seem to justify it, wouldn't it?
- ConnectionsFeatured in Talkies: Remembering Dora Bryan/Our Dora (2019)
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Filming locations
- Southall Studios, Southall, Middlesex, England, UK(studio: made at Southall Studios)
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1