Millions Like Us **** (1943, Gordon Jackson, Patricia Roc, Eric Portman, Anne Crawford, Irene Handl, Moore Marriott, Joy Shelton, Brenda Bruce, Megs Jenkins, Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne) – Classic Movie Review 4695

Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat’s rousing and persuasive 1943 British wartime propaganda drama Millions Like Us centres on the marriage of shy war-worker Celia (Patricia Roc) to young airman Fred (Gordon Jackson). Also featured is the story of posh girl Jennifer (Anne Crawford), who is attracted to gruff older workshop foreman Charlie (Eric Portman).

The movie is a fine, inspiring, well-made tribute to the unsung heroes and heroines of the British World War Two home front, expertly mixing the romantic, dramatic and farcical moments. It is quite admirably written and directed by Launder and Gilliat, with a gritty, credible feel, and realised with stirring, vibrant performances by the likes of Irene Handl, Moore Marriott, Joy Shelton (as Phyllis, in her debut, aged 21), Brenda Bruce and Megs Jenkins.

Basil Radford and Naunton Wayne add an amusing touch of farce in their welcome fourth and final appearance together as the quintessential cricket-mad Englishmen Charters and Caldicott, from The Lady Vanishes, Night Train to Munich and Crook’s Tour (1941).

Also in the cast are Valentine Dunn, Terry Randall, John Boxer, John Salew, Amy Veness, Hilda Davies, Angela Foulds Terence Rhodes, Paul Drake, John Wynn, Albert Chevalier, Frank Webster, Beatrice Varley, Courtney Luck, Amy Dalby, Johnnie Schofield, Jack Vyvyan, Arthur Denton, Jonathan Field, Avis Scott, Clifford Cobbe, Grace Allerdyce, Barry Steele, Gordon Edwards, Stanley Paskin, Bertha Willmott, John Slater, Hugh Cross, Alan Haines and George Hirste.

Millions Like Us is directed by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, runs 103 minutes, is made by Gainsborough Pictures, is released by General Film Distributors, is written by Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, is shot in black and white by Jack E Cox and Roy Fogwell, is produced by Maurice Ostrer and Edward Black, and is scored by Louis Levy.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4695

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