Kenneth More

Diane Cilento

Cecil Parker

Sally Ann Howes

Martita Hunt

Jack Watling

Peter Graves

Gerald Harper

Mercy Haystead

Miranda Connell

Miles Malleson

Eddie Byrne

Joan Young

Brenda Hogan

Peter Welch

Toke Townley

Roland Curram

John Le Mesurier

Lewis Gilbert

Wilkie Cooper

Peter R. Hunt

J.M. Barrie

Douglas Gamley

Ian Dalrymple

Dennis Van Thal

Vernon Harris

Michael Walter

Adventure

Comedy

Romance

The Admirable Crichton

Modern Screen Play

United Kingdom

English

shipwreck

satire

based on play or musical

survival

stranded

swimming

deserted island

south sea island

class system

1900s

kiss me

The Governor and The Daddy.  

The Admirable Crichton is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's role reversal play, taking pot shots at the British class system and starring Kenneth More in the title role, it's something of a little treasure.

Basically the plot sees Butler supreme Crichton become the governor of the desert island that he, and the toff family he serves, have been shipwrecked upon. The point being that these rich toffs, though basically good people, are ill equipped to fend for themselves in the cold hard world. Crichton of course is well prepared for this new life forced upon them. He can cook, swim, catch fish, even start a fire, which none of the rich folk are capable of doing!

We are of course asked to suspend a modicum of disbelief, I mean there are four sexy babes on this island and all of them start to fancy Crichton! Yes it's that sort of film folks. But it's a real well told story that is acted with fine skill, particularly from More and the infectious Cecil Parker as Lord Loam, whilst red blooded men such as myself get the benefit of some rather pretty looking ladies, especially Sally Ann Howes as Lady Mary. 

The ending is never really in doubt, but you know what, in this type of picture I didn't want it any other way. Highly recommended escapism. 7/10

The Governor and The Daddy. 

The Admirable Crichton is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's role reversal play, taking pot shots at the British class system and starring Kenneth More in the title role, it's something of a little treasure.

Basically the plot sees Butler supreme Crichton become the governor of the desert island that he, and the toff family he serves, have been shipwrecked upon. The point being that these rich toffs, though basically good people, are ill equipped to fend for themselves in the cold hard world. Crichton of course is well prepared for this new life forced upon them. He can cook, swim, catch fish, even start a fire, which none of the rich folk are capable of doing!

We are of course asked to suspend a modicum of disbelief, I mean there are four sexy babes on this island and all of them start to fancy Crichton! Yes it's that sort of film folks. But it's a real well told story that is acted with fine skill, particularly from More and the infectious Cecil Parker as Lord Loam, whilst red blooded men such as myself get the benefit of some rather pretty looking ladies, especially Sally Ann Howes as Lady Mary. 

The ending is never really in doubt, but you know what, in this type of picture I didn't want it any other way. Highly recommended escapism. 7/10

CinemaSerf

Many people criticise J.M. Barrie for being far too whimsical with his stories, but there is nothing wrong with some whimsy now and again - and this is a cracking example. The aristocratic "Loam" family set off on their yacht "the Bluebell" for a cruise around the South seas. A storm forces them to abandon ship and they alight on a beautiful desert island where their established, very formal, order is soon re-evaluated - resulting in a pretty comprehensive role-reversal between their butler "Crichton" (Kenneth More) and the entire family led by "Lord Loam" (Cecil Parker) and his daughters who after initially hoping to hold something of their erstwhile rank all realise that they simply must adapt. It's riddled with strong, engaging performances from Sally Ann Howes as the rather aloof "Lady Mary", a superbly loveable "Tweeny" (Diane Cilento) and Martita Hunt is formidable as the "Countess of Brocklehurst". It does take a very genial swipe at the preposterousness of the landed gentry who couldn't tie their own shoelaces, and also at the ridiculousness of the British class system as it most polarised - but it does it in a gently comedic way, and is really quite effective with that - not so underlying - theme. The direction is well paced and there's even a hint of romance... for everyone! If you like the story - try out Cecil B. de Mille's "Male and Female" (1919), but it's not such fun as this flighty, characterful depiction of a good story.

The Admirable Crichton (1957) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

The Admirable Crichton( 1957)

The Hilarious Story of What the Girls Saw in the Butler...

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A review by John Chard

Written by John Chard on Fri Mar 15 2019

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