The Promoter

source: The Promoter

This is a decent film--not a great one. But, because it has such lovely acting, I was able to overlook the fact that the writing could have been a bit better. After all, compared to other Alec Guinness films this one is pretty ordinary--but it's STILL an Alec Guinness film--which says a lot. Guinness plays a humble clerk who through a lot of drive, determination and conniving, he's able to quickly get ahead in life. He isn't necessarily a bad man--just an amazing opportunist--sort of like a British version of "How to Succeed in Business Without Even Trying" set around 1900...but with less comedy. In fact, the lack of comedy is the film's weakest point. While it has a few droll moments, the film lacked the dark humor of Guinness' best (such as "The Lavender Hill Mob", "The Man in the White Suit" and "Kind Hearts and Coronets"). Instead, it's kind of cute, a tad funny and just a bit clever. While I am not a huge fan of Glynnis Johns (mostly due to her voice--which limited her range), here she is at her best. I think this is because her character is VERY deep--she's certainly not who you initially think she is and she is probably the funniest thing in the film. Overall, enjoyable and a must-see for any fan of Alec Guinness. However, if you aren't a fan, try watching some of the films I mentioned above first--they are a bit better.

With a tagline "He's the cheekiest man in town!" The Card (Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns) will teach you a few tricks about how to make it in business from scratch. While you watch Denry (Alec Guinness) stride through his blueprint for fortune, don't miss the smart tactics of Ruth (Glynis Johns). No wonder he chose to marry the soft Nellie; Ruth was sharp competition (but how did he resist those amorous blue eyes and pouting appeals?). She urged him to stand for mayor when Nellie was happy with pennies. It's a satisfying ending, but Denry would have been a bigger cracker with Ruth. Writers and entrepreneurs: view it with notebook and pen. It's a 9-star must.

Guinness made a number of fine British comedies in the 1950s, but this is not one of them. It starts off as mildly amusing as Guinness slyly climbs the social ladder through deceit. Soon, however, the events become totally random and the film starts to drag. This may be the longest 90-minute movie ever made! It just goes on and on for what seems like at least two hours. Although light-hearted, there's hardly anything funny here. A good supporting cast is wasted by an uninspired script. Interestingly, a coronation scene near the end features the "Colonel Bogey" march, a tune that was more famously whistled by Guinness's men in "The Bridge on the River Kwai."

A classic Alec Guinness performance, in this case as Denry Machin, a man who sees opportunity around every corner. Typified by his line 'I just do this to make money', Machin is likable as he sets up his 'Thrift Club' to entice locals into giving him money so he can purchase goods at a huge discount. One of the first entrepreneurs, Machin is a lovable rogue and his story is a fun one to watch. A great British classic which showcases Guinness (one of our best actors) alongside British movie luminaries Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, and Petula Clark. Much later this story was made into a musical, but sadly that has never yet been filmed. It will be fascinating if that ever makes it to the screen.

A classic Alec Guinness, as the young man from the lower class who wants to move up in the world, and does, because he has the courage to go for it. In one scene his boss tells him off (not an exact quote), "So, you fancy yourself being with your betters, do you?" The cheeky reply is "Yes, don't you?" The best line is when his assistant brings him a pile of money collected from his latest enterprise, and comments that it seems a lot of money for doing nothing. The response is: "But I did do something; I thought of it." This is a funny, thoughtful, social commentary, with a great look at both the lower and upper classes.

Very well adapted from the novel by Arnold Bennett, this is a warm and witty comedy about the rise of a washerwoman's son from obscurity to becoming the Mayor. In a series of episodes Edward Henry (Denry as his mother called him) Machin demonstrates his acumen in business, his eye for the main chance, noticing what Shakespeare called the 'tide in the affairs of men that leads on to fortune'. (Literally in one episode!) In all of his this you can not help liking Denry, especially as he is perfectly played by Alec Guinness. As the narrator says, he is not dishonest, he just likes to give providence a helping hand. As Denry grows older Guinness wonderfully captures each facet of his character. He is well supported by the other cast members, each one also perfect for their roles. It is hard to think of a better cast film, even down to the small roles. The film captures well the look of the Potteries. The small houses, the pottery kilns, the canal. This place is living and breathing, populated by interesting people. An excellent film, splendid in all departments and well worth seeing many times.

It's easy to like this charming, unpretentious film in which Alec Guinness's restrained performance hits all the right notes. His fine work during the early 50's is unfortunately overshadowed by the public's identification with him in such big budget productions as The Bridge Over the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. It's the "small movies" like this one (The Lady Killers, The Last Holiday, The Captain's Paradise and Man in the White Suit also come to mind) where we see his real skill and genius. The Card is enhanced by the appealing characters played by Glynis Johns and Valerie Hobson. Fans will also recall Hobson in another Guinness film, Kind Hearts and Coronets. One bit of puzzling trivia: How did Eric Ambler, known mostly for his espionage novels and, later, for Topkapi, come to write the screenplay for this gentle comedy?....

Again a fine performance from Alec Guiness! This would have to be one of my favourite Guiness movies as well as of all time. Guiness really does shine through in his very charming portrayal of this most ambitious young character. A good film with clever performances all round from the cast. Though the character of Nellie really bugged me. I mean it was great that he ended up with her in the end but I didn't think she really should have been there at all. There wasn't enough for her to do anyway...

This is another superb British comedy of the early '50s. The story (based quite closely upon the Arnold Bennett novel) is fun, the script by Eric Ambler spot on, and the production well done. The black and white photography is truly beautiful, and captures the sense of time, place and atmosphere better than any amount of glossy colour could have. I gather that some of the exteriors were shot in Burslem ("Bursley" in the film) and Llandudno, but even if they were not, they feel as though they could have been. The only time the illusion of reality was lost was during some clunky back-projection when Denry was driving his new car. The performances were superb, as one expects of a British film of the period, from the principals, especially Alec Guinness and Glynis Johns -how beautiful she was, how grating her voice, and what a character she created - to extras with a few lines, e.g., Michael Hordern as a sympathetic bank manager. In all, this film is a total delight.