Very Important Person

1961 "Even the GERMAN ARMY couldn't fight this..."
6.7| 1h38m| G| en| More Info
Released: 24 April 1961 Released
Producted By: Independent Artists
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
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Synopsis

Comedy set in World War Two, starring James Robertson-Justice and Leslie Phillips. Sir Ernest Pease (Robertson-Justice) is a self-important scientist who is sent undercover on a bombing mission to monitor the effectiveness of his latest invention, a new-fangled radar. When the plane is attacked, he parachutes to safety - only to be sent to a POW camp, where he takes on the alias of Lieutenant Farrow. There, the somewhat happy-go-lucky bunch of Brits suspect their acerbic new fellow prisoner of being a spy, and all sorts of culture clashes and misunderstandings ensue.

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Reviews

Redwarmin This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place
Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.
Humbersi The first must-see film of the year.
Dirtylogy It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.
intelearts Very Important Person is a well-written, and enjoyable British comedy that really belongs with other classic 1950s films. 1935 - 1962s British Comedies are my absolutely favourite genre as they hold their charm and wit even now and Very Important Person has a great deal of the essentially British humour in tough straights.The plot of the genius scientist - JRJ - who ends up in a POW camp and must escape at all costs is a good vehicle to hang some nice character acting from Stanley Baxter and let Leslie Philips do his bounder at play act.There are a ton of recognisable faces from John Le Mesurier to Eric Sykes, and the terrific part actor Richard Wattis, who everyone in Britain would recognise but few can name, all making the time fly by to perfection.Above all, there's James Robertson Justice. Justice ironically nearly always played characters that looked and sounded true Tory but was the child of two of Britain's better Socialists (They did a lot in educational reform). He, himself, stood for parliament in Scotland as a Labour MP. Thank goodness he lost! His curmudgeon, which he had already perfected as Sir Lancelott Spratt in the Doctor series, is at its best here; he takes rude to a comic art form - and we love him for it.Ken Annakin directs, and given that his list include Battle of the Bulge and Those Magnificent Men in their FLying Machines and Monte Carlo or Bust you know you're in excellent hands.All in all, this is very reminiscent in style to The Wooden Horse but with laughs, a classic of its style and one that will still bring a wry smile to the face.
MartinHafer While this film offers some mildly (very mildly) humorous scenes, I would not characterize it as a comedy--more like a drama with comedic overtones. This isn't a complaint--I just don't want to viewer to expect too much from this film.It starts off in the present day. James Robertson Justice's character is being honored on the British version of "You Bet Your Life" and this leads to a flashback that comprises most of the rest of the film.Apparently, Justice was a big-shot during WWII. During a special mission over German territory, he is accidentally sucked out of a gaping hole blown into the Halifax bomber. And, not surprisingly, he's placed in a POW camp filled with British soldiers. However, he's so important that word makes it to the prisoners that he MUST escape at all costs. In the meantime, Justice is incredibly brusque and dismissive of everyone. It's obvious he hates everyone--showing no respect or willingness to socialize with anyone--British or even German. So, the prisoners are forced to help someone no one really likes--nor should they like him! Much of the film the viewer ponders whether Justice's character is truly hateful or if it's all an act, of sorts. See it and then you decide for yourself. It's an enjoyable little film--nothing great, but well done....and Justice is very good as usual.
MIKE WILSON James Robertson-Justice plays (Sir Ernest Pease.) an important scientist sent on a bombing mission to see how a raid goes. As we can all guess, the plane is attacked and he parachutes to safety only to be sent to a pow camp,where he takes on the alias of Lt Farrow. When the senior British officer learns who he is, Farrow is helped to escape.The film is held together by Robertson-Justice, whose performance lifts the film out of the ordinary.
hedgehog-10 A funny film which has maintained its humour since being made in 1961. James Robertson Justice is excellent as an morose and unfriendly POW who must be helped to escape back to England. Well made and with some excellent exchanges between James Robertson and the other POWs.

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