Nigel Patrick, a diplomatic type who lives in St. James' Palace with his father, A.E. Matthews, is in love with Peggy Cummins, an Irish lass who has wound up in his family's apartments. She is in love with George Cole, a sentry guard at the Palace. Cole and his commanding officer, Anthony Bushell, are in love with Valerie Hobson, who is Patrick's sister. She takes care of her father and brother, and doesn't seem to love anyone, although Bushell has been asking her to marry him for years, and she won't say yes or no.
It's effectively a stage play, from one written by John Dighton. Except for a few establishing shots outside the Palace, where tourists gather and Guards parade, it's all set in two of the rooms of Matthews' family. It's directed by Anthony Kimmins. He had started out as a writer, and rose to prominence for the screenplays to George Formby Jr's early movies. Soon after, he began to direct, and largely specialized in high-class comedies like this one.
It's not scintillating. Everyone is witty, rather than funny or heartfelt, and the plot seems to be a matter of untangling a snarled situation rather than making characters happy. The actors are good in their line readings, and I suppose that's as much as you can ask for a piece like this one.
It's effectively a stage play, from one written by John Dighton. Except for a few establishing shots outside the Palace, where tourists gather and Guards parade, it's all set in two of the rooms of Matthews' family. It's directed by Anthony Kimmins. He had started out as a writer, and rose to prominence for the screenplays to George Formby Jr's early movies. Soon after, he began to direct, and largely specialized in high-class comedies like this one.
It's not scintillating. Everyone is witty, rather than funny or heartfelt, and the plot seems to be a matter of untangling a snarled situation rather than making characters happy. The actors are good in their line readings, and I suppose that's as much as you can ask for a piece like this one.