Great British film which will enthrall you. Treat yourself to special viewing !

An Inspector Calls review

By roncoach from suffolk

An Inspector Calls

Starring Alastair Sim, Arthur Young, Brian Worth, Eileen Moore

Director Guy Hamilton

Genres Drama

Run time 77 mins Certificate PG

21st January 2012

This is one of the best adaptations of a play I have ever seen. It's rare that adaptations surpass the original novel or play........I think this film achieves that rare feat (even the very good adaptation of Rattigan's 'Winslow Boy' comes nowhere near the brilliance of this transfer of an original to the screen).

Priestley's play is of course a classic, and hugely popular , even today, in theatres. In the couple of places I have seen it performed live, I could have heard a pin drop at certain key moments.

This film version will never be filmed again.....because it would be impossible to surpass or even come close to its excellence. And it would not have Alistair Sim, who is stunningly outstanding ( not for the first or last time in his illustrious career-----what a wonderful man to watch on screen : if you do not know his work, search all his films and watch as many as you can , and you'll find, whatever your tastes, at least 75% that you'll enjoy enormously).

Just like in the theatre, there are moments in the film when you will be able to hear a pin drop in your living room......and you'll feel goosebumps down your spine. Trust me, I'm a film anorak :))))

There are 'messages' in the film, deeper issues involved, a great playright stretching the intellect and the conscience.

But forget all of that arty stuff------most of it is nuanced anyway-------and just sit back and be amazed at the storyline, the unbelievably great adaptation, the brilliant Alistair Sim and just about everything else about this film.

It shows what the British Film Industry was like once upon a time-------in the days when we made cars and had a manufacturing industry as well ! We were proud to be British in the early 1950s when this film was made. But I will not labour that point about how far we have sunk in our society,industry and general state of health. On a promising note, though, we DO seem to be having a re-emergence in British Films, albeit ------like Japanese car plants in the UK---due to other countries' investments.

Sorry for digressing. 'An Inspector Calls' has no social message-----that is purely me nostalging about better times when the environment of 'Harry Brown' was unheard of.

If you haven't seen this film, you are in for a treat. If you've seen it before , but many years ago, then watch it again because, although you'll remember the final outcome, which is crucial, you'll find that you are still enthralled.

VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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About the reviewer: roncoach

Mad about films-----nearly any genre invented. I firmly believe that , for examples, during the Golden Age of Hollywood ( say 1937-47) or during the Ealing Years in Britain in the 50s ,more good or great films were made, in terms of sheer numbers than before or since. But I also firmly believe that good and great films have been made in every decade over the past 90 years or more right up to the present day. It is just my opinion that far fewer are made in the present era than in earlier eras. But so long as great films , like The King's Speech ( 2010) or Shawshank Redemption (1994) { or even great TV series like "Lost") are made ........the silver screen will always enrich people's lives and add to our cultural heritage. And most of all to our sheer enjoyment ! Not everyone needs to be a film "buff" or include viewing as their favourite hobby......but is there really anyone who does not enjoy a good film at least from time to time ? In another life, I want to be Leslie Halliwell who, during his life, watched just about every movie ever made and passed on his enthusiasm and passion to so many of his readers. After his death, his successors never "got it right" as Mr Halliwell would have wished. Pity. I have made a collection of my 100 "must-see" films -------it is available under one of my profile sections. Of course, some of the list would change every day LOL ! But the one published on this site gives a good idea of the range of my movie "likes". I wonder if my feeling is correct that today's younger generations are far less tolerant of the whole spectrum of movies in terms of when they were produced. I feel that older generations will readily recognise and acknowledge a good or great movie whether it it was made in 1940 or in 2011. But it seems that younger generations do not do that------they are less inclined to even watch a film dated 1940 ( thus missing some all-time greats) , and if by chance they DO see an "oldie" that is genuinely a great film, they are likely to review it as "dated rubbish". I hope that sweeping generalisation is wrong and that younger generations make a point of looking for 5* films from bygone eras and not just trying to search through much dross to find a good or great film from among the current "blockbusters". Yeah, I'll get off the soapbox and go and watch a film......a good one : from 1940 or from 2011. Happy Viewing :)

Titles rented: 174

Favourite actor: Bogey to Bacon; Coop to De Niro; etc

Favourite director: Michael Curtiz