The Bespoke Overcoat (1954 TV Movie) User Reviews

A Yiddish classic? Or just one that has that feel.

[peterm1 · 7/10 · 25 February 2009]

I like these old movies based on Yiddish stories or at least with a Yiddish feel to them. This was actually based on a Gogol story and he is Ukrainian / Russian not Jewish but this story certainly has that ambiance. In any event these stories are always so full of character (and characters.) This film reminds me somewhat (not the least because it stars David Kossoff ) of the film "A kid for two farthings" But here is the real reason for this post. Although this film was made in the mid 1950s I swear when I watched it that I saw a very young and skinny Sean Connery in a walk on walk off role. But he is uncredited so I cannot confirm it and the film was made a good 6 years before his first big international film - Dr No. Be interesting to have this confirmed or otherwise! Another interesting aside is that this film won an Oscar.

Poignant Performance

[SwollenThumb · 7/10 · 20 April 2018]

Wonderful acting in this short (35 mins) film. Alfie Bass may look too young for an old man but his performance is very poignant.

Brief Gogol adaptation

[Leofwine_draca · 5/10 · 10 May 2017]

THE BESPOKE OVERCOAT is a short film made in 1954. It was shot live by the BBC, which gives it a staged and dated feel, although the film does summon up a spooky ambiance which is most effective. It's based on a story by Gogol and is a two-hander about a ghost and a tailor and the titular item of clothing. Popular actor Alfie Bass has the scene-stealing part as the spirit and the subdued subject matter covers social themes of the day, particularly poverty.

A lot of themes for 36 minutes, but covered with a touch of lightness typical for Gogol

[frankde-jong · 10 December 2021]

The director-debut of Jack Clayton, adapted from a story bij Nicolas Gogol. It won Clayton an Oscar for the best short film.

In a film of only 36 minutes the subjects of poverty, friendship, justice and professional pride are covered. All these subjects are illustrated using an overcoat as the immediate starting point. Amazing! As was te be expected in a story by Gogol these subjects are covered with a touch of lightness.

The film is very stage-like but the camerawork is perfect. The actors are the same as on stage, and they did their job for a busticket and a lunch-meal. After all the budget of the project was only 5.000 pound, which was even then extremely low budget.