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Alastair Sim - The Comic Icons Collection

Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

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A collection of five Alastair Sim films. In 'The Green Man' (1956), seemingly mild-mannered watchmaker Hawkins (Sim) is in fact a skilled assassin. His latest target is leading politician Sir Gregory Upshot (Raymond Huntley), who is due to stay the weekend at the Green Man hotel. However, Hawkins' well-planned attempts to remove Sir Gregory permanently from public life are frustrated by well-meaning vacuum cleaner salesman William Blake (George Cole). In 'Folly To Be Wise' (1952), Sim plays a new Entertainments Officer at a local army camp who attempts to revitalise things by getting rid of the lady violinists and trying to modernise entertainments with chaotic results. In 'Geordie' (1955), Sim plays a Scotsman who takes up a course in Physical Culture, and goes on to become an Olympic hammer throwing champion. In 'Left, Right and Centre' (1959), Robert Wilcot (Ian Carmichael) is the prospective Tory candidate at the Earndale by-election. Travelling down to the town from London, he strikes up a conversion with a pretty young girl and the pair seem to hit it off. It's not until he's photographed carrying her bags along the platform that he discovers Stella (Patricia Bredin) is actually the town's socialist candidate. In 'Laughter In Paradise' (1951), when it's time for the reading of Henry Russell's will, his relatives gather in eager anticipation of the wealth that could be theirs. But they are surprised to discover that their inheritance is conditional upon them each performing a certain humiliating task. Snobbish Agnes (Fay Compton) must take work as skivvy, timid bank clerk Herbert (George Cole) must become a bank robber, pillar-of-the-community Deniston (Alistair Sim) must get sent to prison, and playboy Simon (Guy Middleton) must get married. Will the lure of money be enough to get these characters to go against type? Of course it will.

Alastair Sim - The Comic Icons Collection details

Format:	PG DVD
Starring:	Alastair Sim
Directors:	Sidney Gilliant, Mario Zampi, Frank Launder, Sidney Gilliant /Rob, Ro
Genres:	Comedy - British, General, Romantic, Drama - General, Romance
Studio:	ELEVATION

DVD 5 discs

Name	Discs
The Green Man	PG Disc 1
Folly to Be Wise	U Disc 2
Geordie	U Disc 3
Left, Right and Centre	U Disc 4
Laughter in Paradise	U Disc 5

DVD Information

Run time:	7 hours 27 minutes
Rental release:	29 Oct 2007
Main languages:	English

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Most helpful review Alastair Sim - The Comic Icons Collection

50s Farce, but Strange

By Cato (705 reviews) from Lydbury North , 08 Nov 2007

[Highly rated reviewer]

Alastair Sim plays a bomber, for what reasons we aren't told, presumably he's a psychopath, and the plot revolves around his attempt to assassinate a boring businessman whom he doesn't like. There's a pretty girl involved, and also a youngish George Cole, and a lot of chasing around. It had been a stage play and it shows, but for all that it's a jolly entertaining 80 minutes. Watch out for the female musical trio - very funny.
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Folly to be Wise

By a customer from Pontypridd , 17 Oct 2010

I love Alastair Sims, however this is not one of his better films.

It has a strange story line and not an obvious choice to adapt from a play.

Sims facial expressions are brilliant and his comic timing is superb, but Folly to be Wise is my least favourite film out of this collection.
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An oldie but a goodie

By weebilly (1 review) from Scotland , 04 Aug 2010

An all time classic, I remember sitting on my dads knee and watching this one at a young age. The language and the story line give this scotsman a sense of pride. A portrayal of love, sport and politics all combined into this masterpiece that the whole family can love.
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Disappointing

By Plum (3 reviews) from Edinburgh , 24 Nov 2009

I am a great fan of Alastair Sim and never cease to enjoy his various facial expressions but I feel this is not one of his best films. It did give me a few laughs but I must admit that I found the caricatured Scottish accent of his secretary more than slightly irritating. The story line is not great but it is a period film and one must watch it in that vein. Certainly life in the army is very different these days!
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The Scotland I grew up in !

By Roguestar (10 reviews) from Kirkliston , 21 Sep 2009

Alasstair Sim throwing the hammer is one of the most wonderful moments ever captured to film.

A magic world.
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Historical reminder

By a customer from Carmarthen , 29 Jun 2009

Sim was great and a look at his face and a twitch of the same always brought a smile. The films are simple and probably too simple for today but I enjoy them.
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