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Poet's Pub

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6.6/10 • 5

1949-07-051h 19m

ComedyThriller

Laughter on tap

A loosely structured comedy allowing for a series of vignettes based around an ancient coaching inn. The story was adapted from the 1929 novel by Scottish writer Erik Linklater.

Directors
Frederick Wilson
Editors
Peter Bezencenet

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Derek Bond

    Derek Bond

    Saturday Keith

  2. Rona Anderson

    Rona Anderson

    Joanna Benbow

  3. James Robertson Justice

    James Robertson Justice

    Prof. Benbow

  4. John McLaren

    John McLaren

    Elmer Van Buren

  5. Barbara Murray

    Barbara Murray

    Nelly Bly

  6. Peter Croft

    Peter Croft

    Quentin Cotton

  7. Leslie Dwyer

    Leslie Dwyer

    Holly

  8. Joyce Grenfell

    Joyce Grenfell

    Miss Horsefell-Hughes

  9. Fabia Drake

    Fabia Drake

    Lady Mercy Cotton

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Apr 16, 2023

6/10

This opens up with a quite a fun exchange between poet "Saturday Keith" (Derek Bond) - "Frankly, sir, I'm lost for words" and literary critic "Prof. Benbow" (James Robertson Justice) - "I know, sir, I've read your works..." that rather sets the tone for this light-hearted post-war comedy set in a rustic inn that is struggling to make ends meet. The not-so-hot poet is, rather imprudently, made the manager of this establishment and as he gradually falls for "Joanna" (Rona Anderson) - the daughter of his nemesis - what ensues is a rather entertainingly prickly love story that also finds itself embroiled in a little kidnapping intrigue - and, the mystery of a secret room! I always found that Joyce Grenfell could light up the screen just by smiling, and though that's just about all she does here, she and JRJ do just about enough to keep Eric Linklater's jolly whimsy enjoyable for eighty minutes with some borderline farce and silliness. No, you will not remember watching it half an hour after it's done, but it is still worth a watch to see some true professionals make a small silk purse from a bit of a sow's ear.

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  • Poet's Pub backdrop

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
poetpubattempted kidnapping