At The Circus Details

No devotee of Richmal Crompton's delightfully scruffy creation would be totally satisfied by a screen version of William. However, writer/director Val Guest captures a little of the exuberant antics of the original and William Graham is nicely cast as the ever-questioning boy. His parents have promised him an outing to the circus — if he's good. Not the most likely of outcomes then, especially when he is busy campaigning for shorter school hours. Still he does get his cherished visit — in a rather unconventional manner.

This film began the decline of the Marx Brothers; in it nothing is ill done but nothing is very fresh either apart from the rousing finale which shows just what professionalism meant in the old Hollywood. Highlights include Groucho singing about Lydia the