Review for For Better, For Worse

‘For Better, For Worse’ (also known as ‘Cocktails in the Kitchen’) was based on a play. It shows.

A highly dated, slightly uneventful period piece, it does offer fans of British comedy some notable morsels of interest to lift it above the merely ‘so-so’. For a start, its cast. Dirk Bogarde plays the lead in typically suave style; every parent’s ideal son-in-law: handsome, intelligent and doting. (This was years before ‘The Night Porter’ and revelations about his supposed gay relationship). It also pre-dates his life-changing role in the Doctor films by a couple of months and you can see the prototype here.


Then there are the cameos from staples like Thora Hird, Sid James, and Cecil Parker – all of whom turn in absolutely pin-perfect versions of their thing. The real bonus perhaps is the inclusion of comedy and drama stalwarts Denis Price (here playing a greasy Estate Agent who becomes a friendly neighbour) and Peter Jones as a pernicious, lip-sucking car salesman – a role he would deliver with great aplomb a year later in a far superior picture, ‘A School for Scoundrels’.


So parts that are far greater than their sum which, on balance, should convince collectors of period British comedy to take the plunge. But to pretend that this ‘For Better, For Worse’ is anything better than a piece of cinema-filling light relief would be a claim too far. It’s very, very slight in narrative and laughs.



When impoverished young graduate Tony Howard (Bogarde) proposes to Anne Purves (Susan Stephen) in the cinema, he is readily accepted. Her father listens patiently to Tony when he asks for his daughter's hand, but receiving far from satisfactory answers to the usual father-in-law questions, he agrees to the marriage only on the condition that Tony finds both a job and a flat.


In austere post-war Britain that’s easier said than done but Tony is determined. Eventually he gets a £5.10.0 job and a 30/- a week single-room flat. Being a considerate and highly moralistic man he is determined that his wife shouldn't work so Anne promptly jettisons a good job in favour of lurking in the bedsit.


So with money tight and principles running high, they are determined to make a go of it on their own without help from Anne’s wealthy parents.


Naturally all doesn't quite run to plan and plenty of viewers will recognise all the usual early problems of setting up house together like bringing in too much furniture into too small a space; plumbing problems and unforeseen disasters; nosy and difficult neighbours and falling behind with HP payments.


Laughs are few and far between but there’s no doubting the film’s warm intentions and it could be seen as an affectionate and encouraging piece of post-war propaganda – to get the young generation up and working despite great adversity.


Apparently this is a brand-new transfer from the original film elements though I am unsure what that means other than the possibility that several prints have been reviewed to compile the best pieces. It certainly looks very acceptable.



Extras include a trailer, an image gallery, and a 3 page publicity brochure provided as a PDF.


Not for everyone but British comedy enthusiasts may want to add it to the collection.