Man in the Dinghy

I was losing the will to live after 20 minutes, but stuck it out to the bitter end - the only saving grace being the pretty French actress.

Jack Hulbert being his usual unfunny twit self and as for the first reviewer, he must be remembering it through VERY rose-tinted glasses, but at least his wish has come true in wanting to see it on DVD, because Network has released a box set of "British Film Comedy the 50s". Mind you, I would take them to task over proclaiming on the front cover "Four Hilarious Comedies"

If I had seen this at the cinema when it came out, I would have demanded my money back!!

This movie has to be outstanding for it has stuck in my mind since I saw it in 1950. I cannot recall it ever appearing on television for I have watched out for it ever since.

There were two good reasons why I enjoyed it so much, the first being the beautiful innocence and beauty of Odile Versois at a time when I was still in my late teens and waiting for my call up. The other attraction of the movie was the French Canals. I suppose I was into all things French at the time having just made my first visit to that country the year before. I may not have been aware of the vast network of the Canals in France, though I had seen a little of them next to the Loire at Roanne.

I see that it is billed as a comedy though that the funniest thing I remember is the Dinghy trailing behind the yacht crossing the English Channel and what is in it. Aside from the attraction of Odile there is the wonderful acting by Jack Hulbert and Michael Wilding.

If only this would appear on TV at least once or turn up on a DVD.

Michael Wilding stows away in a dingy attached to a yacht chartered by overacting Jack Hulbert and Constance Cummings.We don't find out why for nearly 40 minutes.Turns out he inadvertently got involved with a smuggling gang.Wilding was at the peak of his stardom.However he is not a particularly good actor.Leaden direction by Wilcox and to the plodding nature of the narrative.One of Wilcox's worst efforts by a long way