THE GREEN MAN is a delightfully old-fashioned British farce of the kind they just don't make anymore, worse luck. It's a fast-moving tale full of outlandish situations and larger-than-life characters and I loved every minute of it, in fact preferring it to the better-known Ealing classics of the era. The thing to note about this film is that it's funny, very funny, and never less than very funny. The set up works extremely well and the pacing never flags for a second. I caught it on television and was entranced.
The film stars the inimitable Alastair Sim as an assassin working his way through a series of high-ranking officials with ease. Unfortunately for him, his latest murder is complicated by the arrival of an annoying vacuum-cleaner salesman, played with delightful relish by the excellent George Cole in the best performance I've seen him give. Cole realises something is up and enlists the help of the gorgeous Jill Adams playing a warm and exasperated bride-to-be as they attempt to stop another murder taking place.
The film mainly takes place in a couple of locations. The first is two neighbouring houses, typical suburban homes that were at their best when murderous antics took place inside them (the fine little crime thriller DILEMMA came to mind when watching this). The latter action is set in an inn (the Green Man of the title) and becomes even more farcical and exciting. The exemplary supporting cast features Terry-Thomas, Raymond Huntley, Avril Angers, Dora Bryan, Cyril Chamberlain, Richard Wattis, and even bit parts for the famous faces of Arthur Lowe and Michael Ripper. There's nothing not to love about this one and I shall be purchasing the DVD forthwith.
The film stars the inimitable Alastair Sim as an assassin working his way through a series of high-ranking officials with ease. Unfortunately for him, his latest murder is complicated by the arrival of an annoying vacuum-cleaner salesman, played with delightful relish by the excellent George Cole in the best performance I've seen him give. Cole realises something is up and enlists the help of the gorgeous Jill Adams playing a warm and exasperated bride-to-be as they attempt to stop another murder taking place.
The film mainly takes place in a couple of locations. The first is two neighbouring houses, typical suburban homes that were at their best when murderous antics took place inside them (the fine little crime thriller DILEMMA came to mind when watching this). The latter action is set in an inn (the Green Man of the title) and becomes even more farcical and exciting. The exemplary supporting cast features Terry-Thomas, Raymond Huntley, Avril Angers, Dora Bryan, Cyril Chamberlain, Richard Wattis, and even bit parts for the famous faces of Arthur Lowe and Michael Ripper. There's nothing not to love about this one and I shall be purchasing the DVD forthwith.