The Green Man ***** (1956, Alastair Sim, George Cole, Terry-Thomas, Jill Adams, Dora Bryan, Raymond Huntley, Eileen Moore) – Classic Movie Review 897

It’s impossible to oversell the vintage 1956 British black and white film The Green Man: it’s wonderful vintage British black comedy stuff, a true comic gem, with adorable performers on their best form. 

Directors Robert Day and (uncredited) Basil Dearden’s vintage 1956 British black and white comedy focuses on the English south coast pub of the title, The Green Man. There freelance paid hitman and master of disguise Hawkins (Alastair Sim) is trying to assassinate Raymond Huntley’s pompous government minister, Sir Gregory Upshott, who is spending a dirty weekend with a floosie typist (Eileen Moore).

But, before the assassin can put Upshott out of action, he has a procession of unwanted visitors at home to dispose of.

Writer-producers Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat’s wickedly amusing black comedy is brilliantly served by the stars. The Green Man is most fondly admired for one of Sim’s most delirious performances as the anti-hero who leads a double life as a shy watchmaker and a hired killer in an era of unemployment after the war.

Sim as Hawkins, the incompetent assassin.

And Sim’s protégé George Cole is a delight too as the travelling vacuum-cleaner seller who accidentally puts a spanner in Sim’s homicidal works. But there are also great comedy moments for Huntley, Dora Bryan as the Green Man receptionist and barmaid Lily, and Terry-Thomas as her boyfriend, Charles Boughtflower, a guest at the Green Man.

It’s impossible to oversell The Green Man: it’s wonderful vintage British comedy stuff, a true comic gem, with adorable performers on their best form.

Jill Adams, Avril Angers, John Chandos, Colin Gordon, Cyril Chamberlain, Doris Yorke, Vivienne Wood, Arthur Brough, Marie Burke, Peter Bull, Willoughby Goddard, Arthur Lowe, Michael Ripper and Terence Alexander also appear.

Launder and Gilliat base their hilarious screenplay on their own play, Meet a Body.

George Cole’s then-wife Eileen Moore appears as the floosie typist Joan Wood, Sir Gregory Upshott’s weekend companion.

Sim and Terry-Thomas reunite for School for Scoundrels (1960). The Green Man and School for Scoundrels are released together on Region 2 DVD rated U.

George Cole died on August 5, 2015, age 90. Adieu, dear departed.

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Jill Adams (22 July 1930 – 13 May 2008) featured in more than 25 films during the 1950s and 1960s, up to Promise Her Anything (1965) as Mrs BM von Crispin (her final film role).

The cast are Alastair Sim as Harry Hawkins, George Cole as William Blake, Terry-Thomas as Charles Boughtflower, Jill Adams as Ann Vincent, Raymond Huntley as Sir Gregory Upshott, Colin Gordon as Reginald Willoughby-Cruft, Avril Angers as Marigold, Dora Bryan as receptionist/ barmaid Lily, John Chandos as McKechnie, Cyril Chamberlain as Police Sergeant Bassett, Eileen Moore as Joan Wood, Richard Wattis as doctor, Vivien Wood as Leader of string trio, Marie Burke as Felicity, Lucy Griffiths as Annabel, Arthur Brough as Landlord, Arthur Lowe as Radio salesman, Alexander Gauge as Chairman, Peter Bull as General Niva, Willoughby Goddard as Statesman, Michael Ripper as Waiter at the Green Man, and Terence Alexander as Radio Announcer.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 897

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