source: Left Right and Centre

Moviecut—Left Right and Centre

"Left,Right and Centre" is the kind of British satire that is watchable due to the sterling efforts of the cast. If no one well known was in this film, then it would be instantly forgettable. Ian Carmichael plays another character who strives to achieve his ambition, this time in politics. Alastair Sim plays his uncle and although slightly wasted, makes the most of his screen time. Richard Wattis and Eric Barker provide the solid support. The plot and the script aren't very distinguished but still OK. The film lacks the sort of biting satire that a masterpiece like "I'm Alright Jack" provided in droves.

Screenwriters Sidney Gilliat and Val Valentine have come up with a most promising idea -- a political comedy. True, politics has entered humorous British screenplays in the past -- most notably in George Formby's devastatingly amusing but oh-so-realistic "He Snoops To Conquer" (1944). This entry centers on a house-of-parliament election rather than the underhanded doings of a local council, and you would think that the wider scope thus offered would allow Gilliat and Valentine to really get the boot in. But they do not do this. Nothing like it! It soon becomes obvious that they have opted for a light romantic comedy that merely skates over the surface of the political pond. Within the limits thus imposed, however, the screenplay still has a lot of promise. But unfortunately, Gilliat's dull, leaden, heavy-handed direction looks set to scuttle much of this fun. Fortunately, many of the players manage to shake themselves free of Gilliat's smothering influence and play their roles with sufficient style and energy to keep the fun bubbling. Lavish production values also help to divert our attention from Gilliat's dull camera set-ups and slow-as-she-goes pacing.

It seems strangely apt that this film was shown on British television right in the middle of the British general election campaign, but that only added to its fun. Ian Carmicheal plays the popular television personality Robert Wilcot, entered as the Conservative candidate in a local by-election, by his Mizar uncle Lord Wilcot, played as wonderfully as ever by Alistair Sim. The Labour party candidate is Stella Stoker portrayed by the beautiful Patricia Bredin and the two have an almost instant attraction towards each other and fall hopelessly in love. This turns what is usually a bitter and unrelenting election campaign into one of the most pleasant campaigns in history. In fact when the candidates meet at the hustings they are so full of love and respect towards their political opponent they actually seem to be promoting one another as opposed to themselves. This causes problems with the warring campaign managers played by Eric Barker and Richard Wattis, who believe elections should be fought on every front, complete with mud slinging, personal insults, sabotage and underhanded vote gaining. They immediately call a cease fire on their personal and political differences and join forces to break up the little 'Romeo and Juliet' relationship by investigating their candidates love lives with the idea of presenting each one with a love rival. This works to a certain extent, but there was so much room for more as would have been the case should this film have been given the full 'Carry On' treatment, it so richly deserved. The films shining moments however seem to leave the two leads in the shade, as the audience are instead drawn towards Barker's Labourite socialist, Bert Glimmer and Richard Wattis' upper crust Tory, Harding- Pratt. Its fun to see the two squabbling officials become good friends as they for once spend an election campaign working with one another on a common goal. They even end up on first name terms and buying each other drinks. Its humorous to see that despite their new found friendship, they always have to meet in the quietest corners of the pub and one always has to leave before the other, just in case they are seen together. Personally united, but each knowing that their friendship is wrong. It is this relationship rather than the love story of the candidates that becomes the focal point of the film so in many respects the movie failed, but it is still a pleasant 95 Min's to spend when you have nothing else to do. The performances are great, especially Barker's as he plays the Peter Sellers' 'Fred Kite from I'm Alright Jack' character to perfection. But special mention to Alistair Sim. Always funny, always watchable and always, always the highlight of any film he appeared and this is no exception. Pleasant, Romantic, Political comedy and although not the best British comedy of the era, you could do much much worse.

Ah England, the home of democracy, as seen in its elections and by-elections. And so we move our focus to a small English town where the Labour and the Tory candidates are involved in a straight fight for the seat. Taking the train down, Tory and TV celebrity Robert Wilcot finds himself seated next to a pretty young woman and they hit it off quite nicely; it is only after getting off the train and being photographed carrying her bags that he learns that Stella is none other than the Socialist candidate. Thus begins the campaign but both candidates are a touch smitten by one another and they cannot bring themselves to really attack the other – much to the chagrin of their respective campaign managers. The last time I saw this film was on the day before polling day during the 2005 British election, shown I suppose to temper the constant coverage but it seemed to have little effect on my opinion of the film. Regardless of the real life context, this is nothing more that a rather slight romantic comedy that uses a by-election as a frame and, I must say, it doesn't use it as well as one would have hoped. The romance didn't convince me because the tow characters were not allowed much time to actually fall in love, so the script relies on a sudden, unconvincing infatuation to move the story along. The election campaign is delivered with a nice touch of humour while also making very gentle digs at the system, but it lacked a sharp edge that I hoped it would have liked. With neither of these strands doing anything that special, it does still manage to be amusing if not brilliant and it is entertaining in a rather British way of the period. The cast are pretty good even if the material isn't totally there to make their lives easier. Carmichael is nicely comic while Bredin is OK but did give me the impression that she was a bit out of her depth with some of the people around her. The two don't have much chemistry and the film is a bit weak as a result. Sim has a small role but is quite funny and support from Barker and Wattis is pretty good. Nobody really stands out and nobody gives more than a workable performance – which matches the material pretty well. Overall this is a nice film but it doesn't ever really manage to do more than that. It is amusing but it lacks a satirical edge that would have improved the scenario and the main romance never convinces, thus preventing the audience really getting into the film. Amusing and "nice" but nothing more.

Amusing by moments. Not worth staying up late for though. A slightly interesting throw-back to a time when the British Labour party was not the contemptible and self-serving organisation that it is now. Alastair Sim steals every scene he is in of course as he always does, unfortunately there are not very many of them. He is given top billing, and the only reason I watched this was that it was a make-weight in the Alastair Sim collection from Amazon, but in truth he is only in it by moments. Almost a fraud. Ian Carmichael has made an entire career out of being a total bozo, and this film is no different from any of the others. And the ending is totally predictable.

I wish I could recommend this. Some of the performers are capable of good turns when given the right material -- Ian Carmichael (with that half-crazed grin), Alistair Sim, Richard Wattis. But this production looks as if a couple of blokes had sat down at a table and, snickering to themselves, sketched out a story of two candidates -- one labor, one conservative -- who fall in love with one another and then it all ends happily. Well, the potential is there but it's never rendered kinetic except during certain farcical moments, which aren't very funny either. The situations should promote laughs but plots need help. Everything seems flat and desperate rather than inspired. Where's the wit in the dialog? Where is the occasional political sting? A disappointment.

Bob Wilcot (Carmichael), a TV personality, is put up as a candidate for a by-election by his eccentric uncle (and parsnip wine addict), Lord Wilcot (Sim). But there is a strange (and highly politically inconvenient) mutual attraction to the other main candidate, Stella Stoker.... This film is set into context by the fact that there had been at least a dozen by-elections a year, many close fought, for the three years previous to 1959, including one where there was not one, but two women standing. 1959 also saw a general election; perhaps there was 'political fatigue' due to the number of by-elections before the general election had started. This film pokes gently (and mostly even handedly) at the worlds of TV, politics, gender equality, and good old fashioned British eccentricity. In many ways ittle has changed; much of the satire could be levelled in a similar way today. Ian Carmichael plays to his strengths in a role that sees his character as one that is basically decent but somewhat in over his head, who manages to muddle through somehow despite everything. It has a pretty good script, is well made, and the quality of the actors is first-class; if you watch carefully, there are lots of good cameo roles and amusing moments. It is really an Ian Carmichael film for the most part, so if you don't like him, or expected more of an Alastair Sim film, you might be disappointed, but otherwise I think this film is somewhat underrated. I have seen this film several times now and I have found it thoroughly enjoyable.

Sub-Ealing fare with many stalwarts of the genre in evidence. This is the Flanders and Swann style of satire('It's not meant to be funny - it's gentle humour - like Last of the Summer Wine')having a go at the Lord who turns his stately home to a tourist attraction(e.g. proto-fascist Duke of Bedford who 'let the side down') that thinks if it gives the impression of attacks on both parties it is neutral. Of course it is a product of its time so all the clichés are respected. Expect men to be calculating, women to be silly, featherbrained things, toffs well meaning, workers drinking, salt of the earth types, etc.etc.The mark is mostly for seeing Sim, Wattis and Barker do their stuff.