The Admirable Crichton

2) Wow what a great film, I can’t believe this isn’t considered one of thegreat classics of all time! More is perfect as Crichton, super-butler (andinspiration for the Red Dwarf character), who takes charge when thenice(-ish) but (very) dim family he serves are shipwrecked. Lots of hilarityin the early stages – (especially the classy dialog between Crichton and theship’s captain – "Will she sink?", "Not unless the engine blows up" (BOOM)"What, like that?" – hilarious), then a really nicely worked role-reversalsequence after they have settled in to their island paradise (although thewhole "guv"-"daddy" thing sounds a bit strained and weird). Some interestingideas about people’s roles in society, the importance of leadership andheirarchy, in a gorgeous looking movie, with beautiful people in lovelyperiod/desert island clothing, stunning scenery and a great beachhouserivalling Swiss Family Robinson’s. All the characters blossom under the sunand question their own attitudes and status in life, and show some reallyeye-opening attitudes (for the time) as the blokes start getting frisky.Poor little Tweeny’s predicament nearly had me in tears! Looks like it’sheading for a sad ending but works out almost lovely, a really enjoyable,heartwarming adventure/romance yarn with a nice chunk of social commentaryand toff-bashing thrown in. Thoroughly recommended to anyone who likes a bitof old-fashioned, old-world entertainment now and again.

3) What a delightful comedy of a type we are not likely to see made today.Although almost 50 years old, it hardly crowds the boundaries of politicalcorrectness, certainly does not trample them – not easy to accomplishtoday.

Crichton, the title and leading character, having achieved the proudposition of being an English butler, demonstrates very clearly to us thatthis is a responsible, demanding post requiring many skills.

This delightful character quickly and confidently moves from a VictorianEnglish, aristocratic home where he comfortably serves the English upperclass, to an isolated tropical island where they servehim!

Kenneth More plays this part so well that we never doubt that such acomplete reversal of roles would be possible.

Cecil Parker is wonderful as the seemingly ineffective, yet charmingaristocrat, "Daddy". He completes the change by becoming a reasonableservant – not quite up to the demands of a butler’s position, more like avalet to More’s "Gov" (Governor).

Lightly, yet firmly, poking fun at the class system. With a clear messageof self-worth deriving from talents, skills and effort, rather thanbirth.

The colour, humour, and pace of this movie make it one that the whole familycan watch and enjoy.

4) Whether you read the play in high school as i did, or not… this iswell worth the watch if only to see the fine acting of Kenneth Moore inthe lead role. He should be better known to more North Americansbecause he could be described as "the U.K.’s Jimmy Stewart".

Sure, a "drawing-room comedy" is not to everyone’s taste, but theadditional twist of a batch of castaways (aristocratic family and theirservants) on a tropical island adds much fun. I have not seen this filmin decades but would love to see it again. If only there were aclassics movie channel in Canada! You will certainly never hear thewords "the truth of the matter is…." ever again without rememberingthis hidden gem and recalling their alternate meaning.

5) In 1904 the Loam house is one of the most prodigious in all England. Thehead butler of the household is Crichton, who knows his place and is keen tokeep the staff downstairs despite his labour-voting master’s support of theabsurd idea of all men as equal. On a cruise of the South Seas the familyand Crichton become ship wrecked and the social standards that oncecontrolled the families are no more and the castaways soon realise the valueof a useful man.

I watched this by pure chance and, judging by the number of votes on imdbagainst this title, it appears that few other people have sought this filmout. This is a retelling of J.M. Barrie’s role reversal comedy and,although not without it’s flaws, it is quite an enjoyable and thoughtprovoking tale. The plot is simple in that the film looks at the classsystem in the UK and switches it in a situation where practicality andleadership qualities mean more than birthright. Sadly in the UK we havehistorically had a class system that has decided from birth who you will bewhen you grow up – if you’re father was a Lord then you shall be too and soforth. That is the situation here and it is amusing to it switched when theisland has no such system and eventually everyone settles into one based onmerit and ability rather than birthright.

The film has a few digs at the ruling classes in the final 20 minutes,showing them as pompous and perhaps not as honourable as they should be,meanwhile Crichton lives up to the character given him by the film’s title. It is actually quite sad when the film returns to England because in thisone man you do get to see the crushing and enslaving effect that the classsystem has on those born into the lower reaches of it. The comedy is rarelyhilarious but is amusing throughout – especially before the social switchoccurs. It may feel a little old fashioned now but it is pretty light andenjoyable. If it does have a flaw it is that the jump between social statusis sudden and not phased in slowly – I know the film had limited time but itwas a little hard to swallow all at once. Also, on return to England thefilm loses a little of it’s sharpness and enjoyment value.

Moore is perfectly cast as the unflappable butler Crichton he is perfect butas someone who knows his place, but also convinces as someone whom is a bornleader regardless of birth right. Parker plays Loam spot on and the supportcast are all well played if a little unmemorable in the oddspot.

Overall this is a quaint little film that makes a very good point. Althoughwe are a classless society by comparison to the events in this film, classand birthright still play a big part in deciding what you’ll become in laterlife in the UK. This is an amusing film with still a thoughtfulmessage.

6) The stand out performance in the Admirable Crichton has to be CecilParker. His comic twitches and compromised authority are hilarious.This take on the British class system never has a dull moment: aperfect segue from stage to screen.

Just to see Kenneth More morph into Parker’s role on the island is adelight. And More does make a fine egalitarian ‘gov’!

Australia’s own Diane Cilento and Sally Anne Howes are very well cast.Sally Anne has a wonderful chaste reserve and to see her come out onthe island as self sufficient and loving under the tutelage of More ispriceless.

But tracking down a copy of this film was very difficult. I found anexcellent DVD in America which was the English version, not ParadiseLagoon.

7) I saw this movie in the theater many years ago. I thought it was greatandwould like to see it again. Does anyone know if it ever came out inVideo,and where can it be rented, or purchased?

I thought the interplay between the rich employer and the servant (who hadamuch better head on his shoulders), was priceless.

This is a video that I’m sure I would prize in my collection if I couldfindit.

The Admirable Crichton is an adaptation of J.M. Barrie's role reversalplay, taking pot shots at the British class system and starring KennethMore in the title role, it's something of a little treasure. Basicallythe plot sees Butler supreme Crichton become the governor of the desertisland that he, and the toff family he serves, have been shipwreckedupon. The point being that these rich toffs, tho 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 therich folk are capable of doing!. We are of course asked to suspend amodicum of disbelief, i mean there are four sexy babes on this islandand all of them start to fancy Crichton!, yes it's that sort of filmfolks. 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 ratherpretty looking ladies, especially Sally Ann Howes as Lady Mary. Theending is never really in doubt, but you know what, in this type ofpicture i didn't want it any other way, highly recommended escapism.7/10

9) A remake of the superior silent version starring beautiful GloriaSwanson and handsome, rugged Thomas Meighan, Male and Female (1919 -available on legitimate DVD off Amazon) this 1957 version pales incomparison to the older film directed by Cecil B. DeMille. This versionstars Kenneth More, Diane Cilento, and Sally Ann Howes as the principalleads, and while they are cute in their roles none of them compare tothe acting abilities of the silent film cast, who gave great subtletyand irony and sexuality to their roles. If a viewer liked this nice butrather weak version of James M. Barrie's classic play then the viewerowes it to himself or herself to see the superior silent version; youwill love it.

One important aspect of this 1957 film that is totally lacking is theunderlying sexual attraction and class friction between Lady Mary andthe butler Crichton, which was displayed quite evocatively in thesilent version. In the remake, Crichton doesn't seem to be aware ofLady Mary at all sexually until they get to the island, he's all eyesfor Tweeny! That wasn't in the original play. In the original play andsilent film Crichton treated Tweeny respectfully but also has somedisdain for her uncultured ways and speech. In the play and silentversion Crichton is much more of a snob himself! Also in the silentversion, Crichton never professes he loves Tweeny, and doesn't kissher. Neither are all the other men attracted to Tweeny on the island inthe silent version or in the original play, though Ernest is brieflyinterested in her in the play.

It seems to me this 1957 version was re-written to give Tweeny (DianeCilento) a much bigger part than her character was in the original playor silent film. This throws the whole film off kilter and takes awayfrom some of its class distinctions and the romantic relationship andforbidden sexuality between Lady Mary and Crichton.

Even more bizarre, in this version there is no overt jealousy betweenTweeny and Lady Mary, no real competition between the two ladies forCrichton! This altered plot device further weakened this version. Inthe silent version Tweeny literally fought with Lady Mary tooth andnail for Crichton's love and attention, which was far more realistic.In the silent version when the wedding is taking place and a rescueboat is seen in the distance Tweeny is triumphant, grabs Lady Mary'sarm and says fiercely, "Do you know what that means, Mary? He's comingback to ME!" There's no equivalent scene like that in the 1957 version.Therefore the rescue doesn't pack the same punch.

The location shoot in Bermuda must have been a difficult one for thecast and crew; it was filmed on a deserted island; whatever modernconveniences they needed they would have had to bring by boat orhelicopter. The water and land and sky shots are pretty and I enjoyedseeing the inventions the group came up with to make their lives easierbefore they were rescued. However the nice location doesn't make up forthe fact that the original story has been considerably weakened forthis version.

My advice: see the silent version, and even more importantly, read theoriginal play by James Matthew Barrie. It's a great classic.

10) Non of the gadgets of a Bond movie and with the innocence of a bygoneera, this story never fails to entertain me. The acting, within theconstraints of the story, was, in the opinion of this amateur, verygood.

The story gives hope for the future in that, in spite of upsets anddisasters that disturb the orderly life of the time, there is a rightand wrong way to correct matters. Politicians have been trying topersuade us for years that they have this insight. If only they hadthen maybe we would be better off. But that would be Utopia wherediligence would be rewarded.

J.M. Barrie certainly rewards the hero's diligence in the tale but notuntil the uncomfortable story line has been unfolded. Kenneth Moore'sCrichton was spot on with showing competent servility and the faultsthat this entails. The cast made a good entertaining yarn an excellentfilm.