Upstairs and Downstairs

And so they were married, Michael Craig and Anne Heywood. And they were very much in love. But as people have been complaining since Grok burned the aurochs, "You can't get good help anymore".

Ralph Thomas directs this rather sniffy look at the never-ending complaint of the long-suffering middle class from a novel by Ronald Scott Thorn. With his usual comic performer like James Robertson Justice, Sidney James, Joan Hickson, and Joan Sims, he skewers everyone from American clerics to owners of French poodles in a long series four adventures in domestic management; Miss Sims is particularly funny with little more than a long-suffering mien.

When a young couple marry, the father of the bride hires a maid to look after them. Proving completely unsuitable, the couple embark on a series of hilarious attempts to find a replacement.

A curious film this, rather subversive (for 1959), episodic in feel and strangely (but effectively) mixing farce with poignancy. The leads are attractive, but the show is repeatedly stolen by a brilliant supporting cast. From Hickson's hysterically funny turn as the inebriated, dog-owning housekeeper Rosemary (her drunken ascending of the stairs is a delight) to Demongeot's joyously natural performance as Ingrid, the entire production is hugely entertaining and barking mad!

Rank/Box/St John/Thomas were no doubt talented producers of this type of light comedy in the 50's and early 60's, but sadly most of them were very by-the-numbers efforts without much pizzaz or oomph. Here we have a bevy of their artistes including JR Justice, Micheal Craig, Sid James and Joan Sims playing their stock characters. It's all OK but we've seen it a thousand times before and the episodic style does jar a little from time to time. All in all it may pass an hour or two quite pleasantly, but it's nothing to write home about. A very average 5 from me.

Ralph Thomas and Betty Box made routine films like this in between making their highly successful Doctor films.Many of the actors who starred in that series appear here.Basically this film contains a series of sketches showing a newly weds series of disasters with hire help till they find Mylene Demyngot.This then as a dramatic twist to allow a happy ending for the couple.Some good performances enliven what is by any standards a routine fairly unfunny script.Michael Craig gives his standard performance.He was the last actor under contract to the Rank Organisation.

I see we have here quite a collection of the "Carry On" gang so expect a lot of hilarious mayhem. Newlyweds Richard (Michael Craig) and Kate (Anne Heywood) are advised by her father (James Robertson Justice) to hire a servant and that's when the troubles begin. From tipster lady to a genteel duo of bank robbers, and others, they encounter some rather eccentric hired help.

Hiring Ingrid (Mylene Demongeot) is their next try at domestic help but she's far too pretty and smart to settle into that role for long. I must admit that when I first saw her she reminded me so much of another lovely young actress, right down to the accent, named Christine Carere, who stars in "A Certain Smile" (1958).

There are lots of funny scenes that keep you laughing, yet later on a mood of thoughtful sadness grips you as hearts are laid bare and broken. What can be sadder than unrequited love but it's a part of life's experiences that help us grow into maturity.

A fun film with a realistic touch as we view the frailties of human nature.