Private's Progress [1956]

Amazon.co.uk Review

With a remarkable cast headlined by Ian Carmichael, Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price and Terry Thomas, WWII army comedy Private's Progress was one of the major British hits of 1956. Carmichael is Stanley Windrush, a naïve young soldier who during training falls in with the streetwise Private Cox (Attenborough). Windrush's uncle is the even more ambitiously corrupt Colonel Tracepurcel (Price), who plans to divert the war effort to liberate art treasures already looted by the Germans. The first half of the film is quite pedestrian, though the pace picks up considerably once the heist gets underway, and the cheery tone masks a really rather dark and cynical heart.

Carmichael's innocent abroad quickly wears thin, but Attenborough and Price steal the film, as well as the paintings, with typically excellent turns. With a nod in the direction of Ealing's The Ladykillers (1955) the film also anticipates the attitudes of both The League of Gentlemen (1959) and Joseph Heller's novel Catch 22 (1961), though lacks the latter's greater sophistication. The cast also contains such British stalwarts as William Hartnell, Peter Jones, Ian Bannen, John Le Mesurier, Christopher Lee and David Lodge, and was sufficiently popular to reunite all the major players for the superior sequel, I'm Alright Jack (1959).

On the DVD: Private's Progress is presented in black and white at 4:3 Academy ratio, though the film appears to have been shot full frame and then unmasked for home viewing so there is more top and bottom to the images than at the cinema. The print used shows constant minor damage and is quite grainy, though no more than expected for a low-budget film of the time. The mono sound is average and unremarkable, and there are no special features. --Gary S Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

Very funny.......2005-10-04

Stanley Windrush (Ian Carmichael) is called up during WW2 and sent for training under the permanently exasperated Sergeant played by William Hartnell. Failing officer training he is sent to a holding camp presided over by Terry-Thomas, with his perpetual cry of "You're a shower, an absolute shower". Here he encounters the crafty Private Cox (Richard Attenborough) who explains to him how it is possible to avoid active service more or less indefinitely, only, as he explains "the trouble is you're educated, and that sort of limits, you, doesn't it?". Cox and his mates are up to all sorts of nefarious activities, and Windrush finds himself in all kinds of trouble. Meanwhile his dodgy Uncle Bertie (Dennis Price) is up to some shady dealings in art.

Finally Windrush's luck runs out and he is sent to train as a Japanese interpreter, but unfortunately he is sent to Germany, where Japanese isn't much use. He neds up disguised as a German officer, and once more encounters Uncle Bertie and Private Cox, who are intent on taking possession of as much as they can of a hoarde of art treasures stolen by the Nazis. Windrush, naturally, hasn't a clue what is going on, and manages to get himself captures by the British, who don't believe he's not a German. Safely back in England, with the war ended, it seems his troubles are over, but fate has more surprises in store for him.

This is a very funny film, with Richard Attenborough particularly good as crafty private Cox, and Terry-Thomas and Dennis Price very funny too. Ian Carmichael plays the bemused innocent in several films, but in my opinion this is by far most amusing.

Enjoyable Gentle Comedy.......2002-10-03

In this enchantingly funny film Ian Carmichael plays the innocent accident prone ex university lecturer who is conscripted in the army during WW2. Being a lecturer he is automatically sent for officer training. Very quickly we find out that he's not officer material, & is sent back to the ranks. Here he meets up with Richard Attenborough (Private Cox) & learns every dodge in the book. Terry "You're an absolute Shower" Tomas plays the camp commander who catches them on one of their little dodges. Transfers them both to new divisions. Ian Carmichael has been sent to army intelligence to learn Japanese. He is then sent to Germany by his Officer Uncle. So again he's in a great comedy situation, a Japanese interpretator in Germany. Again he meets up with Private Cox, & the scams begin again.

This is a gentle comedy that all the family can watch. There's no bad language or violence as such. It's the type of wet Sunday afternoon film that puts a smile back on your face.

Customer Reviews:

Eric and Ernie at their best!!.......2001-11-07

Christmas without the Morecombe and Wise special just isnt the same. This DVD captures the feel and the best of the boys, the comedy is still as sharp 20 years on and the guest appearances are still impressive today. This would mae a valuable addition to any collection, and is already one of my favorites.

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