The last film from Henry Cornelius who had a big hit with Kenneth More in Genevieve but can't do it here. The basic idea isn't very good - a shy engineer discovers that after a certain time of day he's capable of being bold - but it has potential. A worm turns story, okay that can work - I mean what is Superman I guess, if not that. Cinderella.
But they don't really exploit that angle. And it's sunk bu casting. Kenneth More is naturally warm, and amicable - you never believe him to be socially awkward so when he "loosens up" there's no real change, It's just like he's had a few drinks.
This really needed someone more obviously shy like Alec Guinness, Peter Sellers or Norman Wisdom. Or you could do it with a girl.
He befriends an American star on the liner and in that role they miscast Betsy Drake, who is nice and pretty but just seems to be nice and pretty. Someone more obviously "starry" would've been better. I think they should've reteamed More with Jayne Mansfield, that worked well in Sheriff of Fractured Jaw but surely there were other girls available. Diana Dors would've been great, even if they wanted an American. Mamie Van Doren.
And why not romance? They give him a girlfriend at home - boring. Why not make him single and have him romance a girl?
Nicely shot by Freddie Francis and fun turns from people like Sid James. I enjoyed it being set on an ocean liner.
But it's not funny. Miscast.
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