Rich and corrupt Simon Hilton (A.E. Matthews) dies, leaving his fortune and questionable enterprises to his pure and kindly niece Clara (Margaret Rutherford). Clara sets out with Simon’s semi-criminal butler (Ronald Shiner) to check on the businesses, including a pub where the keepers have been stealing the money meant for Simon’s illegitimate daughter (Jill Bennett), a fixed gambling game, abused racing dogs, and a brothel filled with aging women. In each case, the butler tries to hide the truth from her, and she turns out to be far more worldly than expected.
Margaret Rutherford captured the clever-ditzy-old-lady roles for a decade in Britain and she was brilliant in every one. And she’s brilliant here, but she is pretty much on her own. Most of the tertiary cast are fine (including Post-War British Comedy staples Raymond Huntley and Sidney James), but given little to do and few jokes. Even Rutherford is short-changed on gags. And Ronald Shiner is constantly annoying, draining the humor out of every scene. Apparently he was a popular music hall comedian, but never learned the difference between stage and film. I think the film would have been better played as a witty drama instead of a comedy. At least the failed jokes wouldn’t have been a problem then.
While the humor is lacking, the message partly makes up for it. Clara is holy and straight-laced, but not cruelly righteous. She doesn’t gamble, but doesn’t mind others doing so and finds it amusing. She thinks a pub is a great place to chat, and her only concern with the prostitutes is their wellbeing as they age out of the profession. She’s a likable character showing the best in humanity.
But a good message, one good character, and one good performance is not enough. This one is for Margaret Rutherford completests only.
Rutherford’s major Post-War British Comedies include Miranda (1948), Passport to Pimlico (1949), The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950), The Importance of Being Earnest (1952), Innocents in Paris (1953), Trouble in Store (1953), Mad About Men (1954), The Runaway Bus (1954).