''The Time of His Life'' is a 1955 British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring

Richard Hearne Richard Lewis Hearne (30 January 1908 – 23 August 1979) was an English actor, comedian, producer and writer. He is best remembered for his stage and television character Mr Pastry. Career Hearne was born in Norwich, Norfolk, in 1908, the son ...

, Ellen Pollock,

Richard Wattis Richard Wattis (25 February 1912 – 1 February 1975) was an English actor, co-starring in many popular British comedies of the 1950s and 1960s. Early life Richard Cameron Wattis was born on 25 February 1912 in Wednesbury, Staffordshire, the ...

and

Robert Moreton Robert Moreton (born Henry Moreton; 25 June 1922 – 22 July 1957) was an English comedian and actor. Biography Born in Teddington, Middlesex, he initially had a successful straight acting career with the Old Vic Theatre, before becoming a s ...

. The screenplay concerns a man who is released from prison and goes to live with his socialite daughter.

Plot

When newly released prisoner Mr. Pastry (Richard Hearne) arrives to stay, he proves an embarrassment to his social climbing daughter Lady Florence (Ellen Pollock). As president of the society for the rehabilitation of ex-convicts, she attempts to hide the fact her father is an ex-con. She locks Mr. Pastry in his bedroom, and even plots to have him sent to Australia. But Lady Florence's children see Mr. Pastry differently, and he helps them through a problem, prompting even his daughter to see Mr. Pastry in a new light.

Cast

as Charles Pastry * Ellen Pollock as Lady Florence *

as Edgar *

as Humphrey *

Frederick Leister Frederick Leister (1 December 1885 – 24 August 1970), was an English actor. He began his career in musical comedy and after serving in the First World War he played character roles in modern West End plays and in classic drama. He appeared in ...

as Sir John * Peter Sinclair as Kane * John Downing as Simon * Anne Smith as Penelope * Darcy Conyers as Morgan * Yvonne Hearne as Guest * Peggy Ann Clifford as Cook * Arthur Hewlett as Prison Governor * Harry Towb as Steele

Critical reception

TV Guide TV Guide is an American digital media company that provides television program listings information as well as entertainment and television-related news. The company sold its print magazine division, TV Guide Magazine LLC, in 2008. Corpora ...

'' gave the film two out of five stars, calling it a "simple comedy with likable characters"; the '' Radio Times'' rated the film three out of five stars, and wrote, "Though not a patch on Pastry's many TV shows, it's still a nostalgic treat"; and '' Sky Movies'' also rated the film three out of five stars, writing, "Both comedy and pathos come off well in an unpretentious little film that has likeable characters, an acceptable story and some amusing situations. In the supporting cast: two other music-hall comedians – Robert Moreton, once famous for his 'Bumper Fun Book' and Peter Sinclair."

References

External links

* 1955 films 1955 comedy films British comedy films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Leslie S. Hiscott 1950s British films British black-and-white films {{1950s-UK-comedy-film-stub