This is the sort of film I can admire more than I enjoy. Excellent performances on screen making full use of the gifts given to them by Coward and Lean. It is easy to see why this film would be held in high regard But this should not be confused with reality, more a portrayal of a rosy England that never existed, a comfort blanket for war torn Britain.

No mention of the idiotic 'silver spoon in the mouth' leadership of the British military in WWI. Economic hardship is given only passing comment, infant mortality doesn't appear to be a thing, medical care and education aren't worth a mention and generally any concerns in life are a result of choices made by the individual's rather than anything that is a consequence of the British state.

The 20/20 hindsight in the lecturing and pontificating of Frank Gibbons can become tiresome. Always on the right side of history is our arch-capitalist and patriot Frank. He'll tell one person that it is futile to campaign for social equality and mobility because it is human nature for there to be 'haves' and 'have nots', a position that could be used to excuse British imperialism and colonialism of the year the film was made. So sit down, shut up and look more shaken when news come through that one of your inbred 'betters' (the King) has passed away than you do when you find out you won't ever see your own daughter again.

But accepting that these matters are in large part a product of the film being a war time morale booster helps to overcome such quibbles and accept it for what it is.

6/10