This film is something of a family favourite. John Mills is almost always good value, and he doesn't disappoint here. In Alfred Polly we have the average little man who dreams of great adventure, but is neither intellectually equipped, nor has the emotional stature to see past his uneventful march to the grave. He is a social misfit; unable even to pass for a success in mediocrity. And it's because he desperately wants to be something different, but doesn't know how to be. And so, despite little opportune moments, Alfred Polly begins his journey to the cemetery. Until he gets the idea to kill himself - and it's the making of him. Polly finds he can change his life, or at least make it a damn sight more interesting. Set with a renewed vigour our misfit begins an adventure to fit his limited ambitions. And so he finally finds contentment.
It's not the journey that entirely makes this film work. Indeed, watchers may become fidgety at the film's smallness of story, and the accent on the human peculiarities. But it's this quirky nature of the film; the little detailed bits that have undoubtedly been left in from the original novel that preserve the flavour and make this film ultimately so enjoyable. The manner is which Polly comes out with occasional words that he's read in books, which might otherwise indicate a wide understanding and vocabulary if he didn't completely goof up the pronunciation. The little fabrications of stories he tells other people; and the occasional references to a Little Dog, when he is under great stress in certain situations.
Ultimately, do we like Polly? Is he a character who we want to succeed? This is crucial to our liking of the story. There will be those people who will lose patience with Polly, just like some of the characters in the film. And there will be those willing him on to his adventures and finally, sharing in his own contentment.
It's not the journey that entirely makes this film work. Indeed, watchers may become fidgety at the film's smallness of story, and the accent on the human peculiarities. But it's this quirky nature of the film; the little detailed bits that have undoubtedly been left in from the original novel that preserve the flavour and make this film ultimately so enjoyable. The manner is which Polly comes out with occasional words that he's read in books, which might otherwise indicate a wide understanding and vocabulary if he didn't completely goof up the pronunciation. The little fabrications of stories he tells other people; and the occasional references to a Little Dog, when he is under great stress in certain situations.
Ultimately, do we like Polly? Is he a character who we want to succeed? This is crucial to our liking of the story. There will be those people who will lose patience with Polly, just like some of the characters in the film. And there will be those willing him on to his adventures and finally, sharing in his own contentment.