Zorba the Greek spoke about meeting a 90 year old man who lived each day as if he would never die, while he himself lived as if he would die any minute. While it really comes down to meaning the same thing, everybody who lives life to the fullest finds different circumstances and reactions. Alec Guennis plays a milquetoast clerk lacking in life behind him, but in facing impending death, he heads out for a spree, checking into a residential hotel, being labeled a "mystery man", which brings him great prestige among the workers and clients. The men who reside in the hotel consult him as if he was a member of the House of Lords, the women come to think of him in romantic terms, and the staff take hold of his wisdom concerning the working man being mistreated.
This sly subtle comedy is a gentle hearted view of British society, its attitudes towards the whole stiff upper lip mentality, and how social image can influence how certain members of society are dealt with when assumptions take prevalence over the truth. Guennis, making his low-key performance seem so much different than anything he's ever done, is of course, brilliant. While this is an overused phrase concerning great actors in their best performances (they make it look so easy), here his vocal tone and mannerisms are nowhere close to his usual style. An amazing cast of a plethora of British actors bring much humor to the dour theme. You may not be able to smile with a stiff upper lip, but you can still vibrate them, and that stiff upper lip won't prevent you from crying at the surprising conclusion.
This sly subtle comedy is a gentle hearted view of British society, its attitudes towards the whole stiff upper lip mentality, and how social image can influence how certain members of society are dealt with when assumptions take prevalence over the truth. Guennis, making his low-key performance seem so much different than anything he's ever done, is of course, brilliant. While this is an overused phrase concerning great actors in their best performances (they make it look so easy), here his vocal tone and mannerisms are nowhere close to his usual style. An amazing cast of a plethora of British actors bring much humor to the dour theme. You may not be able to smile with a stiff upper lip, but you can still vibrate them, and that stiff upper lip won't prevent you from crying at the surprising conclusion.