The biggest flop of the six MGM-Ealing films, which tried to turn Harry Secombe into a star. He's cute, cuddly, can act and sing and be funny... the film doesn't quite work. It's about a man torn between performing in opera and doing a family act which isn't much of an idea. Especially as the "family act" don't seem like a real family. I mean, that's a basic flaw. I'm surprised they stuffed it - you could've easily just had a bunch of Welsh actors, mum and dad and nephew and nice. But instead they've got Ron Randell with an American accent and his wife and some old clown.
This needed to be about a man breaking away from his family. They've been together forever so it's a real wrench. As it is the family are basically four middle aged people who should be able to survive. They don't deserve him. If it had been his parents it might've worked. But no family feel = the movie is dead. When Secombe doesn't do opera at the end it's just sad.
Shot in CinemaScope and colour by Geoffrey Unsworth. Probably not worth it.
Most pathos comes from that little Bill Owens in love with Randell's wife.
Needed more songs. More family. More point.
Ealing could really miss the boat with their films.
Was interesting to see Randell as a compere and doing skits like he often did on radio. Susan Shaw has a late in life appearance - she'd drink herself to death soon.
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