The success of Powell and Pressburger’s films at the box office saw them becoming increasing bold artistically – this is a genuine one of a kind movie, about three young people (two soldiers and a girl) who meet in a town in Kent where a local odd ball is running around putting glue in girl’s hair. The big debit of this for me was the performance of Joe Sweet as the American – he was awful, and his voice grated. Every time he appeared on screen or talked, I winced.
Eric Portman’s magistrate is really weird – he runs around putting glue in girls hair so men won’t be tempted to ask them out on dates and thus attend his lectures on the countryside. And the film seems to support him – he isn’t punished.
Sheila Sims was much better – another in the long Powell-Pressburger line of sensible British heroines. And Dennis Price was fine. There was much to enjoy – the Scooby Doo mystery (who is the glue bandit), small town atmosphere, the sense of camaraderie amongst young people, the scene of Eric Portman and Sims on the hill, people walking in the dark, war women talking, the finale at a cathedral, the whole dreamy "feel" of it. It's just that frigging American who wrecks it.
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