CinemaSerf

Alastair Sim is super as the man who calls upon the well-to-do "Birling" family with the very sad news that a young girl has been found dead. What's that to do with them, asks "Mr. Birling" (Arthur Young)? Well over the next eighty minutes this man lays before them a cleverly constructed series of theories that could easily suggest that any or all of them might be responsible for the sad and lonely predicament the young woman found herself in at the end of her life. Spurned affections and accusations of neglect, cruelty - psychologically rather than physical, and thoughtlessness could readily be laid at their door as "Poole" exposes a family riven with double standards and hypocrisy. His simple and polite inquisition gradually reveals secrets that the family would far sooner have remained so - but, are they the only people with secrets? Is "Poole" really who he claims to be? Guy Hamilton cleverly allows the darkly mischievous writing of JB Priestley and the considerable talents of his leading man to take centre screen here, and to draw us into this spider's web of a story. The format sticks pretty closely to that of the original stage performance - almost all set in just the one room of their home, and each of the small cast get their moment to squirm under his spotlight of interrogation. It's well paced and shows off Sim at his best.