A charming and ambitious young man finds many ways to raise himself through the ranks in business and social standing- some honest, some not quite so. If he can just manage to avoid a certain very predatory woman...


viewer's comments:


- Great Great Great

Ok I just saw watched this at like 2am. Great film. I have one of the most abstract taste in films (Everything from Full Metal Jacket to Toy Story 2)

Anyhow, the movie is about a, well ethical con man? He tries to improve his station in life (and makes no effort to hide it) whilst helping the surrounding people.

I guess a little dated by todays comedy, but then again with every comedy being a remake of the previous, this was a good bit of class.

PS, the money marrying female you can't figure out where you saw her from, is from Mary Poppins. 10/10



- Excellent

Very well adapted from the novel by Arnold Bennett, this is a warm and witty comedy about the rise of a washerwoman's son from obscurity to becoming the Mayor. In a series of episodes Edward Henry (Denry as his mother called him) Machin demonstrates his acumen in business, his eye for the main chance, noticing what Shakespeare called the 'tide in the affairs of men that leads on to fortune'. (Literally in one episode!)

In all of his this you can not help liking Denry, especially as he is perfectly played by Alec Guinness. As the narrator says, he is not dishonest, he just likes to give providence a helping hand. As Denry grows older Guinness wonderfully captures each facet of his character. He is well supported by the other cast members, each one also perfect for their roles. It is hard to think of a better cast film, even down to the small roles.

The film captures well the look of the Potteries. The small houses, the pottery kilns, the canal. This place is living and breathing, populated by interesting people. An excellent film, splendid in all departments and well worth seeing many times.



- A forgotten jewel

(Hallmark Home Entertainment VHS 91 mins) I first saw this movie almost exactly fifty years ago. At that time it was known as The Promoter. This film shows without a doubt the enormous talents of Alec Guinness. I seem to feel that it did not receive the acclaim of some other Guinness films possibly due the date of its release, 1952. Just after Lavender Hill Mob and before A Captain's Paradise. There is absolutely nothing I didn't like about the picture. The three principal ladies were all superb. This was the only film Guinness made with Petula Clark or Glynis Johns. He did make Great Expectations and Kind Hearts and Coronets with Valerie Hobson. I have always remembered one scene with Guinness and Johns. In the movie they are engaged and Johns spends Guinness' money as fast as she could. At one store the shop keeper asks for the name and address, so as to be able to have the package delivered. Guinness, without hesitating one instant answers, "Rockefeller - Buckingham Palace." Wonderful film - great entertainment!



- Another Overlooked Delight for Guinness Fans

It's easy to like this charming, unpretentious film in which Alec Guinness's restrained performance hits all the right notes. His fine work during the early 50's is unfortunately overshadowed by the public's identification with him in such big budget productions as The Bridge Over the River Kwai and Lawrence of Arabia. It's the "small movies" like this one (The Lady Killers, The Last Holiday, The Captain's Paradise and Man in the White Suit also come to mind) where we see his real skill and genius. The Card is enhanced by the appealing characters played by Glynis Johns and Valerie Hobson. Fans will also recall Hobson in another Guinness film, Kind Hearts and Coronets. One bit of puzzling trivia: How did Eric Ambler, known mostly for his espionage novels and, later, for Topkapi, come to write the screenplay for this gentle comedy?....



- A classic British comedy; one the very best.

A classic Alec Guinness, as the young man from the lower class who wants to move up in the world, and does, because he has the courage to go for it. In one scene his boss tells him off (not an exact quote), "So, you fancy yourself being with your betters, do you?" The cheeky reply is "Yes, don't you?"

The best line is when his assistant brings him a pile of money collected from his latest enterprise, and comments that it seems a lot of money for doing nothing. The response is: "But I did do something; I thought of it."

This is a funny, thoughtful, social commentary, with a great look at both the lower and upper classes.



- A Great Film!

Again a fine performance from Alec Guiness! This would have to be one of my favourite Guiness movies as well as of all time. Guiness really does shine through in his very charming portrayal of this most ambitious young character. A good film with clever performances all round from the cast. Though the character of Nellie really bugged me. I mean it was great that he ended up with her in the end but I didn't think she really should have been there at all. There wasn't enough for her to do anyway...




cast: Alec Guinness .... Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin
Glynis Johns .... Ruth Earp
Valerie Hobson .... Countess of Cell
Petula Clark .... Nellie Cotterill
Edward Chapman .... Mr. Duncalf
Veronica Turleigh .... Mrs. Machin
George Devine .... Mr. Calvert
Joan Hickson .... Mrs. Codleyn.

Runtime: 87 min
Country: UK
Language: English
Black and White

Also Known As:
Promoter, The (1952) (USA)