It's a Wonderful World (1956) User Reviews

Better than you've heard

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 16 December 2019]

IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD is a film that seems to be unfairly slated here on the IMDb. It's not the greatest film out there, but it's much of a muchness with the rest of the genre in the 1950s and a semi-effective mixture of musical tunes and light comedy. The cast is better than the material and often elevates the mildly tedious into something better. George Cole and in particular Terence Morgan are effective as the struggling friends who realise a novel way of success, and the supporting cast is littered with both well-known and well-liked character actors and musical celebrities.

Tedious and very dated!

[geoffm60295 · 4/10 · 21 July 2019]

This film essentially harks back to the 40's and early 50's when big bands ruled the airwaves of popular music together with ballad singers like Denis Lotis and his ilk. However, by 1956, when this film was released, this type of easy listening music was being swept away by more exciting and vibrant sounds of rock 'n' roll. It was great to see the great band leader Ted Heath, but this film, even in 1956 must have had a very dated feel about it when it hit the cinemas, since teenagers had begun to buy, listen and dance to a completely different type of music! The story line about two music composers who hit upon the idea of playing music backwards, hoping it would prove to be a commercial success was frankly daft. George Cole and Terence Morgan are ill suited as the 'young men' thirsting for musical success, as they look like two very dull, middle - aged men in suits, who are totally unconvincing in their roles. The songs featured are lifeless and the dialogue is tedious! It might be ok to watch this film on a cold, rainy afternoon for purely reasons of nostalgia!

Where is Rimsikoff?

[richardchatten · 5/10 · 14 January 2021]

Val Guest's black & white dramas of the fifties invariably outclassed his films in colour, of which this is probably the most tolerable.

In order to compensate for bandleader Ted Heath's woodenness playing himself the rest of the film is rather frantically farcical; with a mildly satirical plot making the usual digs at long-haired fuddy duddies and Harold Lang playing an effete music critic.

George Cole overacts wildly, a plot strand resembles Lt. Kije and above all there's a bizarre dream sequence. All in Spectascope and Technicolor to remind you that you wouldn't get any of this on TV.

Warner Brother used to do this sort of stuff so much better

[junk-monkey · 3/10 · 11 May 2005]

Two struggling songwriters in London make friends with a struggling French wannabe chanteuse. To make money the boys invent a avant-guarde composer by playing swing music backwards and transcribing the result. They succeed in fooling the critics and the music is performed. The girl gets an audition with one of their songs and is a hit. She finds out about the boys' scam and everyone lives happily ever after.

Warner Brothers used the same situation endlessly in the 30s (usually with Dick Powell and Ruby Keeler as the stars) and this is a pale imitation of those streamlined, production line classics.

The songs are instantly forgettable and the production numbers cheap. The standard roll call of British character actors of the time do their stuff with their usual professionalism. Notable amongst them is John Pertwee (he of Dr. Who fame) doing a passable imitation of Danny Kaye conducting the orchestra.

There is an amazing amount of smoking in this movie by today's standards. Everone smokes, in bed, at work, even while singing. Incredible. Not recommended viewing if you are trying to give up.