Have always been a big fan of old British comedy, you don't get much better than the best of Ealing Studios (i.e. 'Kind Hearts and Coronets'), do know 'The Green Man' is not from Ealing but just wanted to briefly mention. To me, if there is a strong contender for the best British comedian in sound-era films, Alastair Sim would be it while Alec Guinness would be another strong contender.
'The Green Man' is a real gem. Not quite perfect (not many films are, like trying to see the good in bad or terrible films also equally try to see any improvements in decent to fantastic films), but close. Only saw it recently after it being strongly recommended by friends who are fellow fans of older comedy British or not. If one wants a film that mixes never-less-than-very-funny laughs with edge-of-the-seat suspsense adeptly, it doesn't get much better than 'The Green Man'.
Maybe the story gets a little over-complicated in spots when it gets busier and it occasionally gets slightly stagy.
Although George Cole was clearly having great fun with his role, a type of role that he does generally here do very well in, and the viewer has fun watching him, the bumbling occasionally is overdone.
On the other hand, Sim's performance is pure genius, one of his best in my opinion. His comic timing is as ever impeccable and he proves that he can also be serious too, showing that he is much more than a comedian. Raymond Huntley is also deliciously pompous and Terry Thomas does the most with his far too short screen time. Jill Adams radiates whenever she appears. Robert Day keeps everything moving along at a cracking pace and doesn't make it too silly or too serious. The production values have a nice atmosphere and the music just about doesn't fall into either extreme of being bombastic or too low-key.
Furthermore, the script is peppered with entertaining lines that never get too broad or juvenile, the 9'o clock news line is agreed one of British comedy's funniest lines ever. Much of 'The Green Man' ranges from very funny to hilarious in the humour, with a riot of a climax and the three ladies/recital/radio bomb scene is farce at its most delicious. The story is never less than engaging, with some wonderfully kooky characters, brilliantly timed comedy, unpredictable twists and turns and the right amount of suspense. It just needed to do a little bit less later on.
Summarising, terrific fun and a must if you love British comedy (or comedy in general) and/or of Sim. 8.5/10
'The Green Man' is a real gem. Not quite perfect (not many films are, like trying to see the good in bad or terrible films also equally try to see any improvements in decent to fantastic films), but close. Only saw it recently after it being strongly recommended by friends who are fellow fans of older comedy British or not. If one wants a film that mixes never-less-than-very-funny laughs with edge-of-the-seat suspsense adeptly, it doesn't get much better than 'The Green Man'.
Maybe the story gets a little over-complicated in spots when it gets busier and it occasionally gets slightly stagy.
Although George Cole was clearly having great fun with his role, a type of role that he does generally here do very well in, and the viewer has fun watching him, the bumbling occasionally is overdone.
On the other hand, Sim's performance is pure genius, one of his best in my opinion. His comic timing is as ever impeccable and he proves that he can also be serious too, showing that he is much more than a comedian. Raymond Huntley is also deliciously pompous and Terry Thomas does the most with his far too short screen time. Jill Adams radiates whenever she appears. Robert Day keeps everything moving along at a cracking pace and doesn't make it too silly or too serious. The production values have a nice atmosphere and the music just about doesn't fall into either extreme of being bombastic or too low-key.
Furthermore, the script is peppered with entertaining lines that never get too broad or juvenile, the 9'o clock news line is agreed one of British comedy's funniest lines ever. Much of 'The Green Man' ranges from very funny to hilarious in the humour, with a riot of a climax and the three ladies/recital/radio bomb scene is farce at its most delicious. The story is never less than engaging, with some wonderfully kooky characters, brilliantly timed comedy, unpredictable twists and turns and the right amount of suspense. It just needed to do a little bit less later on.
Summarising, terrific fun and a must if you love British comedy (or comedy in general) and/or of Sim. 8.5/10