Review: No Kidding
Blu-ray, DVD, Digital: No Kidding (1960)
David Robinson (*cough* great name *cough* played by Leslie Phillips) and his wife Catherine (Geraldine McKewan) have been left a dilapidated country house by an Aunt in her will.
Much to the chagrin of his poor wife, David has left a trail of failed business ideas behind them, and when he comes up with a plan to turn the house into a holiday home for the children of rich parents, Catherine is not too keen on the idea.
Also not keen on the idea is Mrs Spicer (Irene Handl), the local alderman who wants the place for her own ideas and tries her very best to scupper anything that the Robinson\’s try to do.
An influx of children give hope that this is a business plan that could finally take off, but the antics of the annoying overprivileged kids, an alcoholic cook, a young woman whose identity is unknown, and of course the dastardly Mrs Spicer, all make it an uphill battle where the business, and indeed the Robinson\’s, could break at any moment.
No Kidding is a charming comedy that raises more smiles than laughs, but gives lots of them as events constantly spiral out of control, leaving David in a constant battle to try and keep a steady ship.
The performances are great across the board, with Joan Hickson as the drunk cook being a particular highlight.
It also has Martin Stephens as the shy and retiring Angus; a boy who just wants to see his mother again…a far cry away from his role in Village of the Damned (released the same year) where he is a very different boy indeed!
No Kidding is another great entry into Network\’s \’The British Film: Phase II\’ series of releases, and is well worth picking up if you\’ve never seen it before, and is still worth picking up if you have, as it looks fantastic on the Blu-ray release.
Review by Dave from a disc kindly supplied by Network on Air via Blue Dolphin PR.
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