What a surprise "What the Butler Saw" turned out to be. Some benefactor to mankind using the name "flashbackcaruso" has posted this apparently "rare Hammer film" on YouTube. THANK YOU, flashbackcaruso!
From the very retro title to the sometimes superlative cast -- "The Earl" especially -- this was an intriguing experience.
Much of "What the Butler Saw" looks like a stage play. It's essentially one set, with a few rooms, and not a lot of action.
Some of the dialog and plot are at least slightly contrived, and some of the acting, especially by "Gerald," is over-done, but "The Earl," by the veteran Edward Rigby, is so perfect, I am horrified that I knew nothing about him before.
He died the year after this film was released and the world is a poorer place without him. Whatever else he might have done, and at IMDb he has 78 credits, he and this role are perfectly complementary.
Getting her first screen credit, the adorable Mercy Haystead looks about as "South Pacific native" as, say, Jane Russell, whom she does slightly resemble. Over the next dozen or so years, she had an average about about two roles a year, then retired, into a reportedly very happy and successful marriage. Again, the world was poorer without her presence on the screen. She was adorable.
Being British, the cast was generally excellent, as was the directing.
The story was a bit contrived, and occasionally the action was telegraphed, but ultimately it was resolved beautifully -- and surprisingly.
I want to thank, again, flashbackcaruso for uploading this charming and delightful movie, previously completely unknown to me, but now one I want to recommend to everyone for a light and very pleasant hour.
From the very retro title to the sometimes superlative cast -- "The Earl" especially -- this was an intriguing experience.
Much of "What the Butler Saw" looks like a stage play. It's essentially one set, with a few rooms, and not a lot of action.
Some of the dialog and plot are at least slightly contrived, and some of the acting, especially by "Gerald," is over-done, but "The Earl," by the veteran Edward Rigby, is so perfect, I am horrified that I knew nothing about him before.
He died the year after this film was released and the world is a poorer place without him. Whatever else he might have done, and at IMDb he has 78 credits, he and this role are perfectly complementary.
Getting her first screen credit, the adorable Mercy Haystead looks about as "South Pacific native" as, say, Jane Russell, whom she does slightly resemble. Over the next dozen or so years, she had an average about about two roles a year, then retired, into a reportedly very happy and successful marriage. Again, the world was poorer without her presence on the screen. She was adorable.
Being British, the cast was generally excellent, as was the directing.
The story was a bit contrived, and occasionally the action was telegraphed, but ultimately it was resolved beautifully -- and surprisingly.
I want to thank, again, flashbackcaruso for uploading this charming and delightful movie, previously completely unknown to me, but now one I want to recommend to everyone for a light and very pleasant hour.