Private's Progress (1956)

Director:

John Boulting

Writers:

John Boulting (screenplay)
Alan Hackney (novel)

Release Date:

17 February 1956 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Stanley Windrush has to interrupt his university education when he is called up towards the end of the war...

Plot Keywords:

British Army | Army | University | Language Course | War In Europe

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Richard Attenborough	...	Pvt. Percival Henry Cox
Ronald Adam	...	Doctor at medical hearing
Dennis Price	...	Bertram Tracepurcel
Henry B. Longhurst	...	Mr. Spottiswood (as Henry Longhurst)
Terry-Thomas	...	Maj. Hitchcock
Ian Carmichael	...	Stanley Windrush
Peter Jones	...	Arthur Egan
William Hartnell	...	Sgt. Sutton
Miles Malleson	...	Windrush Senior
Sally Miles	...	Catherine
Thorley Walters	...	Capt. Bootle
Jill Adams	...	Prudence Greenslade
David King-Wood	...	Gerald
Ian Bannen	...	Pvt. Horrocks
Victor Maddern	...	Pvt. George Blake

Runtime:

102 min | UK:97 min (re-issue) (1957)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

Charter Film Productions

Quotes:

Maj. Hitchcock: Good Lord - Windrush! What on earth are you doing dressed up as a Jerry? You're an absolute bounder.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Long Day Closes (1992)

Just the ticket

Growing up in England we are blessed to have the comedic genii of the Boulting Brothers and Ealing Studios. Films like Kind Hearts & Cornets, the Lavender Hill Mob, and School for Scoundrels, comedies that make us root for the crook even though we know (thanks to censorship) that they won't get away with it. Private's Progress (the precursor to I'm Alright Jack) is in the same mould. The sublime Ian Carmichael, the Machiavellian Terry-Thomas, the spivvy Richard Attenborough, the slightly otherworldly John LeMesurier - perfect stereotypes of post-war Albion. Movies like this are made to be watched on wet Sunday afternoons, cozy slippers and a pot of tea, perhaps even a biscuit or two or a slice of rich fruitcake dense with candied peel and other goodies. Safe to watch with your Auntie Doris (no sex, violence or swearing, no sir), a film that carries itself purely on a clever script and a rattling pace. Complete fluff, of course, but just the ticket as the winter's evening closes in and you're dreading returning to work on Monday. File under pretty much anything from that era with Alec Guinness (may his name be praised), Sink the Bismark, Ice Cold in Alex, Rommell, or Dambusters. British through and through, and a jolly good thing too. They don't make movies like this anymore, more's the pity.