Castle in the Air

'Castle in the Air' was practically forgotten for a long time, and still is not that well known. While it is not a great film by any stretch of the imagination, it is a nice way to pass the time if with not enough for it to be a personal favourite or watched over and over.

The cast are definitely the reason to see 'Castle in the Air' and they are the best thing about it. Margaret Rutherford's splendidly dotty performance steals the show and Patricia Dainton makes the most of her role. Helen Cherry is very charming and it was a shame that she didn't make it bigger. Pre-'Mary Poppins' and 'Bedknobs and Broomsticks' David Tomlinson may be unconvincing as a Scot but he has the authority and also the lightness for his role and is always in keeping with the film's tone.

It looks attractive and atmospheric, it is not a cinematic-looking film but looked like it was made with skill and not in an amateur way. The music may not be classic standard but it has a pleasant energy and sounds appealing. Throughout 'Castle in the Air' has a cosy charm and gentle wit, it is not dull and it makes sense on the whole. The direction is competent.

However, 'Castle in the Air' drags slightly in the middle and has an over-stuffed and muddled ending. It also tries to do a little too much genre-wise and in a way that while coherent it doesn't quite come together.

Parts at times feel tossed in and don't add as much to everything as much as they should, or are just about necessary but not enough is done with them.

Summing up, nice enough and worth watching, a decent time-passer if you will, but not much more than that. 6/10 Bethany Cox

"Castle in the Air" is a clever British comedy. It stars David Tomlinson as a man who owns a large manor home...but simply cannot afford to keep it. However, two possibilities for dealing with it arise. First, a beaurocrat tells him that the government is considering requisitioning the place...meaning he'll probably only get a fraction of what it's worth. Second, a lady from the States arrives and says she's considering buying it. So, it's up to the Earl to focus on its best qualities around the lady as well as convince the beaurocrat that the place is a falling down dump. And, then there's the ghost...it's a nice ghost...but a ghost nevertheless. The craziest part of all this is that two women want this Earl...and it's hard to imagine even one!!

This is a clever little comedy....not a laugh out loud one but more of a cute slice of life film. Well acted and enjoyable throughout.

By the way, the American lady did not sound the least bit American. Sometimes the actress sounded very Canadian...others she sounded almost British...but she never sounded like a lady from Utah!

One of the comic themes of post-War England was the suddenly impoverished nobility trying to deal with their crumbling stately homes -- bad drains was a common trope. In this one, David Tomlinson is the Earl of Locharne, whose house is haunted, not only by a ghost played by Patricia Dainton, but by holidayers dissatisfied by the poor conditions, neighbors who resent his poaching, a bureaucrat from the Coal Board who wants to requisition the place for convalescing miners, an American millionairess (played by Barbara Kelly) who wants to buy the place, and Margaret Rutherford, who insists he is rightful King of Scotland. Can his manager, Helen Cherry, get him out of debt and get him to notice she's been in love with him for years?

It's based on a stage show, and whatever subtext may have existed at some point has been rubbed out. Still, the director is Henry Cass, who directed one of my favorite non-Ealing comedies of the era, LAST HOLIDAY, so he knows how to direct for laughs. If some of the lines come out a trifle fast for emotional weight, this is not the first movie from a stage play I've seen that happen in. The cast handles the comedy very well, even if some of the characterizations are a bit standard. I expect you'll have a good time watching this.

The screenplay by Edward Dryhurst. Based on a play by Alan Melville. I would love to see the play.

Earl of Locharne (David Tomlinson), his two devoted servants Boss Trent (Helen Cherry), and Menzies (Ewan Roberts) are having trouble keeping the old castle economically afloat. Adding to the mix is that the castle is probably going to be requisitioned by the government.

Hopefully, to save the day a distant relative, Mrs. Clodfelter Dunne, is interested in purchasing the castle. Throw in a resident ghost Ermyntrude (Patricia Dainton) and we have a making of a comedy of misunderstandings and what-not.

Do not miss Margaret Rutherford in this play the movie "Blithe Spirit" (1945.)

ANY movie with this star is worth the time. The only negative comment I have is that it was only 1 1/2 hours long. If you like this movie, try out Agatha Christie's movies starring Margaret Rutherford.