Having now watched it with Dong, Shazzerooneypoos and Mrs The Millbrooker, I can quite understand how a small boy would be enthralled by lots of sword fighting and plenty of theatrical action scenes. I have my suspicions that the more-or-less adult version of Frankenkeith that we know and love today might be a little less impressed.
Sadly the almost pantomimic qualities of 1940s and 50s Hollywood family fare haven't really stood the test time in this one. Jose Ferrer won a Best Actor Oscar for this performance; I can only guess that they gave them out then for anyone who could remember lots of lines and didn't bump into the furniture too much (copyright Noel Coward).This really is, nowadays, Sunday afternoon fare; perfect for falling asleep in front of after a good roast and perhaps a pint or two down the local.
The Film Club regulars had a jolly decent evening of it once the film was done and we could concentrate on slurping some nice wine and talking nonsense.
The Film Club scale: Dong took a single fag break (not damning in itself, but the film is only 93 minutes long); Shazzerooneypoos made some very impressive wuffling noises about halfway through. Mrs The Millbrooker wasn't stimulated by the entertainment on offer, and I reckon I've given my opinion moderately succinctly already. Cyrano de Bergerac (1950 version) can be placed only slightly above Death in Venice as a low point in Film Club's viewings.
For watching with maiden aunts when there's little else to do only.
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