This anti-television vehicle commences its tirade most promisingly. The characters are introduced in capital style, while the proposition that TV is an instrument of the devil will fall on many a sympathetic clerical ear. Unfortunately, the producer has obviously blown most of his budget on the earlier scenes, and then spent his reserves on the concluding sequence in which a myriad number of workers in an enormous office are employed sending out lonely heart letters.
The rest of the action, alas, wallows in tedious additional dialogue and small-budget clichés which are now and again relieved by the welcome entrance of Stanley Holloway.
All the same, the film does present some worthwhile ideas. True, the conclusion seems like an arbitrary appendage to the main plot, but the real problem is that none of the three stories actually do justice to their fascinating characters.
All the players are excellent. Stanley Holloway, Joseph Tomelty and Peggy Cummins never deliver less than top-notch performances, but the real surprises are a charismatic Jack Watling and normally dull Gordon Jackson (of all people) doing full justice to a character role.
At times, Pelissier's direction seems admirably imaginative, especially in the panto sequences.
The rest of the action, alas, wallows in tedious additional dialogue and small-budget clichés which are now and again relieved by the welcome entrance of Stanley Holloway.
All the same, the film does present some worthwhile ideas. True, the conclusion seems like an arbitrary appendage to the main plot, but the real problem is that none of the three stories actually do justice to their fascinating characters.
All the players are excellent. Stanley Holloway, Joseph Tomelty and Peggy Cummins never deliver less than top-notch performances, but the real surprises are a charismatic Jack Watling and normally dull Gordon Jackson (of all people) doing full justice to a character role.
At times, Pelissier's direction seems admirably imaginative, especially in the panto sequences.