5 Star

Sim, ply Sublime.

Oh, what a joy it is to sit back and watch a vintage Alastair Sim (Scrooge, Inspector Hornleigh) mystery in 4K. This 1954 British Lion Films release was based on J. D. Priestly’s play of the same name, adapted for the screen by Desmond Davis, and skilfully directed by Guy Hamilton (Live and Let Die, Goldfinger, The Man with the Golden Gun, Diamonds Are Forever), and with pedigree like this you know you’re in for a cinematic delight. This Vintage Classic is a cracking release, if you are an Alastair Sim fan, this a must own, or a sure fire way to start a Vintage Classics film collection.

Strange events are about to descend upon the Birling family home and all those within. As the family finish their evening meal, the talk comes around to the prospect of a World War, which father the former lord mayor (Arthur Young, The Lady with a Lamp, San Demetrio London) thinks this talk is balderdash, it’s 1912 and there is no chance of a war. His inebriated son Eric (Bryan Forbes, The Guns of Navarone, Seance on a Wet Afternoon) disagrees, as Mrs Birling (Olga Lindo, Sapphire, The Stars Look Down), a woman of indomitable spirit, chastises her son for drinking too much.

As this discussion goes on and on, Gerald Croft (Brian Worth, Scrooge, Hindle Wakes) takes the opportunity to propose to Sheila (Eileen Moore, The Green Man, Les Misérables (TV Mini Series)) who says yes.

Time for some interference in this wholesome family as there is a knock at the door and an inspector, Poole (Alastair Sim) tells the gathered family that a young woman named Eva Smith (Jane Wenham, The Teckman Mystery, BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series)) has tragically taken her own life in gruesome circumstances.

Tragic, but what’s that got to do with us?

Well, the inspector is about to tell you that everyone in the room had something to do with Eva’s tragic life.

An Inspector Calls is a tale of connected events that these well-to-do people don’t even notice as they impact on ordinary folks lives, and now the inspector has caught up with them. An awesome tale told by the master Alastair Sim.

We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.