Cottage to Let (Special Edition)

Introduction

In 1941, the outcome of the war was far from certain, and British studios pumped out film after film telling the British public how dangerous it was to let down their guard. While still being able to get on with their lives, if everyone got stuck in together, whatever their class, at least the war against enemy agents and the fifth column could still be won.

This is the basic premise of Cottage to Let (also known as `Bombsight Stolen` according to IMDB, which gives the plot away somewhat).

On a Scottish estate, a small cottage (although judging by the amount it can fit in, there`s a space-time dimension aspect to the whole place) suddenly becomes home to several people: a cheerful cockney chappie (an evacuee, played by a very young George Cole in his first major film appearance); a spitfire pilot who is rescued after bailing out over the local loch; an elderly gentleman who claims he has already rented the cottage, despite the fact that it is now serving as a military hospital; an eccentric, but brilliant inventor, who actually owns the land; his assistant, who is equally brilliant, but not as eccentric; the landowner`s wife; their butler; their housekeeper, and their rather pretty daughter…

Of course, everyone is not as they first seem, and red herrings fly as infiltrators on both sides try to get the upper hand.

Video

The print for this film has deteriorated dreadfully, and so expect constant pops and scratches (one section looks as if there`s a permanent waterfall down the right-hand side of the screen). It`s not completely unwatchable though.

Audio

The sound too, is not as clear as I would have liked, but despite its age, the speech is generally very clear.

Features

As extras, Network DVD seems to come up with peculiar little gems to go with their welcome reissuing of old films. Here, we are presented with an hour-long (well, it would have been had we had the adverts too) Anglian TV play from 1975, starring Alastair Sim (recorded the year before he died) and Jeremy Brett.

`The Prodigal Daughter` is a tale of three Catholic priests on the lookout for a housekeeper, but `Father Ted` it most certainly isn`t. Sim plays the improbably named Father Perfect, who is mentor and fiend to both Father Daley (Brett) and Father Vernon (the wonderfully slimy Charles Kay). Christine (Carolyn Seymour) comes into their lives rather suddenly, and all manner of un-Catholic feelings begin to grow.

All quite good fun, but beware of the comedy organ-playing that passes as theme music.

Conclusion

Cottage to Let has a plot which is throroughly contrived, and is populated by characters who couldn`t be more stereotyped if they tried, but its heart is set plainly on its sleeve, and Antony Asquith manages to steer us around plot-holes through which you could fly a Dornier while still throwing out a few surprises.

The cast all play their parts very well indeed, espcially George Cole, who continued much the same role throughout his career of course. Jeanne de Casalis (as the inventor`s wife) is actually very funny, and sounds as if she is improvising much of the script. Alastair Sim plays himself really (again managing to spout `Quite extraordinary!` at least once as in most of his performances), but that`s what I love about his films. He also turns into a highly convincing Nazi (or does he?) at one point.

John Mills as the fighter pilot is as reliable as ever (although a sudden burst of overacting right at the end created an unexpected laugh), and I`m delighted to say that the name of the assistant (equally brilliant but not as eccentric inventor), who is shot, but still gets the girl, is Alan.

Just one warning - if we ever find ourselves in a situation like that again, never, EVER trust anyone who is excited to hear of a new Wagner recording.