Leslie Phillips is the printer for a publisher. He has two hobbies: going to funerals, and helping out at the parish boy's club. When the club loses its lease and must buy the property or relocate, Phillips decides the finance the purchase by going to funerals and telling the survivors that the late lamented had written a book very embarrassing to their interests. They invariably choose to buy back the book.... at first.
It's full of 1950s comedy stock characters: blustery generals, clueless vicars, twittery schoolma'ms, and Italian gangsters. Phillips works his confidence games facilely, because he has the means to produce proof copies. He also presents one of his butter-wouldn't-melt toffs, which operates nicely amidst the varied comedy stereotypes. In the end, of course, we expect thatall will be well and the Jill that Jack will get is a decorous and decorative Susan Beaumont. There are enough smiles on the way there to make this worth watching.
It's full of 1950s comedy stock characters: blustery generals, clueless vicars, twittery schoolma'ms, and Italian gangsters. Phillips works his confidence games facilely, because he has the means to produce proof copies. He also presents one of his butter-wouldn't-melt toffs, which operates nicely amidst the varied comedy stereotypes. In the end, of course, we expect thatall will be well and the Jill that Jack will get is a decorous and decorative Susan Beaumont. There are enough smiles on the way there to make this worth watching.