The Remarkable Mr. Kipps

KIPPS is a film about the life of a rather stupid young man, played by Michael Redgrave. Mr. Kipps works as a clerk in a small department store and has little formal education. However, out of the blue, he receives a substantial inheritance. Kipps has dreams of becoming a country gentleman. Although he has a mansion and money, two things he doesn't have are an education or common sense. The audience may find that they like this artless man, but at times he's also incredibly foolish in his attempts to blend in with society. On top of that, he becomes engaged to a society lady who is VERY class-conscious and Kipps is forever feeling out of place around her or the company she keeps. How Kipps is able to somehow make a go of it all is something you'll have to see for yourself in this light drama.

While there isn't a lot about this movie that will linger, it is reasonably well-produced and acted--though I think they did make Kipps a bit dumb--too dumb. But, he's a likable fool and it all ends very well, so it's definitely worth watching. One thing that I wondered, though, as I watched. This film was made in the UK during the darkest days of WWII, yet you'd never suspect, as it's a period piece set about 1906--a rarity for a wartime British film, as most seemed to involve the war.

Michael Redgrave stars in one of his perfect roles as the draper Kipps who rises through the class system, ready to better himself and take his place in the world.

It's a steady and unremarkable tale, directed by Carol Reed and adapted by Sidney Gilliat from the novel by HG Wells. But despite the fairly routine story, it is livened up by performances by Phyllis Calvert and Diana Wynyard, both names which appeared regularly in British cinema period pieces.

'Kipps', later remade as the musical 'Half a Sixpence' with Tommy Steele, is typically English, and a typical rags to riches piece. Done well, directed with interest, but perhaps a little overlong.

This is a minor work by a neglected master director, Carol Reed, who shared with his contemporary David Lean a great talent for adapting classic English novels to film. Unfortunately, Reed's original cut for the UK, slightly under two hours in length, was trimmed of another half hour before being shown in the United States. Consequently, that version, the one most people see, seems unnecessarily choppy at times. In recreating Edwardian England, Reed was helped here by the magnificent costumes of Cecil Beaton who would go on to design "My Fair Lady" for stage and film. Young Michael Redgrave as the feckless draper's assistant who unexpectedly rises above his station is ideally cast, as are any number of excellent supporting actors from the English stage, among them, most memorably, Max Adrian as the snob Coote and Arthur Riscoe as the playwright Chitterlow. Michael Wilding, Elizabeth Taylor's second husband, is seen briefly as Kipps' solicitor.

A gentle Dickens type tale of rags to riches & back again & up again. Kipps or should that be Cuyps, came across as a likable but utterly naive character. He showed remarkable pluck as a young lad, but poor judgement as an adult trying to find his way in life, how he needed a father's guidance. I struggled slightly to buy into most of his relationships, he clearly was infatuated with his first fiancée, but did portray his general discomfort extremely well. Anne's was a lovely performance by Calvert, although again, Kipps didn't seem delighted to see her when they were re-acquainted after 7-8 years.Things worked out for him, but mostly by luck, not judgement. I suppose life is like that in many ways. Lots of thought provoking moments in a dated but somehow compelling story.

Kipps (an excellently cast and believable 'nice' guy Michael Redgrave) gets told the above at the beginning - and says it to himself at the end of this film. It gives an example of the era and mindset of this quaint period fable.

From a novel by (a less than usual subject normally associated with) H G Wells, this enchanting piece of sub Dickensian clash-of-the-classes is rich in period detail, is at times witty but generally unenthralling fluff. Interestingly, directed by one Carol Reed, only 8 years before his mega-classic The Third Man, Kipps looks twenty years older in style - and quality, than his later classic. Whether that was budgetary, or intentional or simply lacking the brilliant cinematography of Robert Krasker, it shows to the point of being almost incomparable.

Kripps is a dreamy draper in Edwardian England, who believes he has a higher calling in life and through an assorted set of not very adventurous jobs and relationships he attempts to better himself, but finds he cannot.

The UK release is too long and the US version at under 90mins might find more favour. As a rainy afternoon time-waster with lashings of nostalgia it does hit the spot, though. As in a cosy, fireside scene, it's a comfortable fable like 'hot buttered muffins and tea'.

Remade as Half a Sixpence, it probably did need the extra music and dance (and Technicolour) to make it sparkle and have a wider public appeal.