The History of Mr. Polly (1949)

Quiet and somewhat direction-less, Alfred Polly uses the money he inherits from his father to marry and to set up shop in a small town. His heart is in neither of these enterprises and he ... See full summary »

Director:

Anthony Pelissier (as Anthony Pélissier)

Writers:

H.G. Wells (by), Anthony Pelissier (adapted for the screen by) (as Anthony Pélissier)

Stars:

John Mills, Sally Ann Howes, Betty Ann Davies

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Mills	...	Alfred Polly
Betty Ann Davies	...	Miriam Larkins Polly
Megs Jenkins	...	The Innkeeper
Finlay Currie	...	Uncle Jim
Gladys Henson	...	Aunt Larkins
Diana Churchill	...	Annie Larkins
Shelagh Fraser	...	Minnie Larkins
Edward Chapman	...	Mr. Johnson
Dandy Nichols	...	Mrs. Johnson
Sally Ann Howes	...	Christabel
Juliet Mills	...	Little Polly
Laurence Baskcomb	...	Mr. Rumbold
Edie Martin	...	Lady on roof
Moore Marriott	...	Uncle Pentstemon
David Horne	...	Mr. Garvace

Storyline

Quiet and somewhat direction-less, Alfred Polly uses the money he inherits from his father to marry and to set up shop in a small town. His heart is in neither of these enterprises and he eventually resorts to desperate measures to break free. His random wanderings in the countryside lead him to a new opportunity that just might be what he's been looking for all along.

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Second uncredited theatrical movie of Lyndon Brook, his first being "A Yank at Eton" (1942).

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Quotes

The Innkeeper: I want an odd man about the place.
Alfred Polly: I'm odd all right.

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Connections

Version of The History of Mr Polly (2007)

User Reviews

Polly earns no crackers

I have to say I was a bit disappointed in The History Of Mr. Polly, I have always thought that H.G.Wells was better at writing science fiction than at social commentary. Many have said he's an early 20th century Charles Dickens, I think he falls short of the mark, especially here.

There's a lot of Walter Mitty in the interpretation that John Mills gives Alfred Polly. He's a dreamer who can't quite find himself, but gets the opportunity to do so when he inherits a large sum of money.

For a man in Edwardian Great Britain that usually meant acquiring a business and becoming a man of property. This Mills does, but it hardly brings him fulfillment. The film is his search to find some kind of place and some kind of fulfillment.

Mills and the rest of the cast do a creditable job in the roles, but I never really got the message of what Wells was trying to say or what his solution to Polly's problem was. Was it settling for peanuts or maybe even crackers?

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 March 1949 (UK)

Filming Locations:

D&P Studios, Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Two Cities Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1