Make Me an Offer *** (1954, Peter Finch, Adrienne Corri, Rosalie Crutchley, Finlay Currie, Meier Tzelniker, Ernest Thesiger, Wilfrid Lawson) – Classic Movie Review 13,408

The attractive 1954 British colour comedy film Make Me an Offer is based on Wolf Mankowitz’s 1952 novel, and stars Peter Finch as an antique dealer with a lifetime love for a Wedgwood green Portland vase.

Director Cyril Frankel’s attractive 1954 Eastmancolor British comedy film Make Me an Offer is based on Wolf Mankowitz’s 1952 novel, and stars Peter Finch, Adrienne Corri, Rosalie Crutchley, Finlay Currie, Meier Tzelniker, Ernest Thesiger, and Wilfrid Lawson.

The story chronicles the adventures of Jewish antique collector Charlie (Peter Finch) and his lifetime love for a seemingly unattainable ornament, a perfect green Portland vase created by Josiah Wedgwood in 1783.

This film is a bit of an antique itself, but it is very watchable in a dated way. The extremely effective (if a touch stereotyped) playing by the excellent cast gives this sincere and amusing little entertainment a considerable boost. Peter Finch, Rosalie Crutchley as his wife Bella and Adrienne Corri as Nicky are all good, but it is Meier Tzelniker as the cunning old dealer Wendl, Finlay Currie as rich old businessman Abe Sparta, and Ernest Thesiger as the wicked old Sir John, who are most entertaining and come out best.

The gently appealing screenplay is by the novelist Wolf Mankowitz and the film’s producer W P Lipscomb. It was Wolf Mankowitz’s first novel and a best seller. It was semi-autobiographical as he had been an antique dealer since 1947.

Filming took place at Beaconsfield Studios from 22 April 1954 and finished by August 1954. It is made by Group Three Films, the short-lived 1951-1955 British film production company set up by the National Film Finance Corporation to help finance movies from newer film-makers, and run by John Grierson and John Baxter.

It is the first starring role in a British film for English-Australian actor Peter Finch, who called it: ‘Without a doubt the best film I’ve ever acted in. It is adult, truly artistic. It is the longest part I’ve ever had, since I’m in every scene but one. Group Three is exciting and alive with rising talent and new ideas. It is fun because they all know they’re going somewhere. Rosalie Crutchley, who plays my wife, is a splendid actress.’

The cast

The cast are Peter Finch as Charlie, Adrienne Corri as Nicky, Rosalie Crutchley as Bella, Finlay Currie as Abe Sparta, Meier Tzelniker as Wendl, Ernest Thesiger as Sir John, Wilfrid Lawson as Charlie’s father, Anthony Nicholls as auctioneer, Alfie Bass as Fred Frames, Guy Middleton as Armstrong, Vic Wise as Sweeting, Mark Baker as Mindel, Jane Wenham as Dobbie, Richard O’Sullivan as Charlie as a boy, Cyril Smith as auctioneer, Eric Francis as auctioneer’s assistant, Roger Maxwell as man bidding at auction, Helena Pickard as lady on train, John Le Mesurier as Mr Toshack, and Leonard Williams as Edward H Whybrow.

Make Me an Offer is directed by Cyril Frankel, runs 88 minutes, is made by Group Three Films, is released by British Lion Films, is written by Wolf Mankowitz and W P Lipscomb, is shot in Eastmancolor by Denny Densham, is produced by W P Lipscomb, is scored by John Addison, and is designed by Denis Wreford.

It was first screened on 9 December 1954 and went on UK general release on 8 May 1955.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,408

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com