The History of Mr. Polly (film)
Encyclopedia
The History of Mr. Polly is a 1949
British film, based on the 1910 comic novel The History of Mr. Polly
by H.G. Wells. It was directed by Anthony Pelissier
(who is also credited with the script) and stars John Mills
, Betty Ann Davies, Megs Jenkins
and Finlay Currie
. It was the first adaptation of one of Wells' work to be produced after his death in 1946.
's shop, where his father had placed him as an apprentice, he finds it hard to find another position. When a telegram arrives informing him of his father's death, he returns to the family home. With a bequest of £500, Polly starts to think about what he should now do with his life, and a friend of his father's, Mr Johnsen (Edward Chapman), urges him to invest it in a shop - an idea that Polly hates.
Whilst dawdling in the country on a newly-bought bicycle, Polly meets, and has a brief dalliance with, a schoolgirl, Christabel (Sally Ann Howes). It can't last, and eventually he marries a cousin, Miriam Larkins (Betty Ann Davies), whom he met at his father's wake. It is not a marriage of love, but one of convenience.
15 years pass and Polly and his wife are running a drapers in Fishbourne. Polly hates the shop and the marriage has descended to incessant arguments and bickering.
Whilst walking in the country to get away from his wife, Polly decides to commit suicide
but also sets his shop ablaze in the hope the insurance will set Miriam straight. He botches the arson
job and instead of killing himself, rescues an elderly neighbour and becomes a minor local celebrity.
Still unhappy, Polly decides to simply leave Miriam; he walks out and finds his way into the country where he comes across an inn on a riverside. The innkeeper (Megs Jenkins) is seeking a handyman and ferryman. Polly takes the job, but soon realises that the position was open because the innkeeper's brother-in-law is a drunkard who chases any other man away from the inn.Polly ends up having a few run-ins with Uncle Jim (Finlay Currie), who finally accidentally trips and drowns in a weir
when he is chasing Polly. Polly returns to work in the inn.
Several years later, he wonders whether Miriam is getting by. He returns to Fishbourne to find that she has opened a tea-shop with her sister, in the belief that Polly had drowned (Uncle Jim had been wearing a pair of trousers with Polly's name in them when he died). He runs into his ex-wife whilst exiting the tea-shop; she thinks she recognises him and shrinks away in fear, but Polly quietly leaves and returns to his happier life at the inn.
1949 in film
The year 1949 in film involved some significant events.-Top grossing films :- Awards :Academy Awards:*Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff, starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello...
British film, based on the 1910 comic novel The History of Mr. Polly
The History of Mr. Polly
The History of Mr. Polly is a 1910 comic novel by H. G. Wells.-Plot summary:Alfred Polly is a quiet, timid and direction-less young man living in Edwardian England, in an imaginary town of Fishbourne in Kent...
by H.G. Wells. It was directed by Anthony Pelissier
Anthony Pelissier
Harry Anthony Compton Pelissier was an English actor, screenwriter, producer and director.-Biography:Pelissier was born in Barnet and came from a theatrical family. His parents were the theatre producer H. G. Pelissier and the distinguished actress Fay Compton...
(who is also credited with the script) and stars John Mills
John Mills
Sir John Mills CBE , born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, was an English actor who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades.-Life and career:...
, Betty Ann Davies, Megs Jenkins
Megs Jenkins
Muguette Mary "Megs" Jenkins was an English character actress who appeared in British films and television programmes.-Life and career:...
and Finlay Currie
Finlay Currie
Finlay Jefferson Currie was a Scottish actor of stage, screen and television.Currie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1878. His acting career began on the stage. He and his wife Maude Courtney did a song and dance act in the US in the 1890s. He made his first film in 1931...
. It was the first adaptation of one of Wells' work to be produced after his death in 1946.
Plot
Alfred Polly (John Mills) is a day-dreamer with his nose in books rather than keeping his mind on his work. Following his dismissal from a draperDrapery
Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles . It may refer to cloth used for decorative purposes – such as around windows – or to the trade of retailing cloth, originally mostly for clothing, formerly conducted by drapers.In art history, drapery refers to any cloth or...
's shop, where his father had placed him as an apprentice, he finds it hard to find another position. When a telegram arrives informing him of his father's death, he returns to the family home. With a bequest of £500, Polly starts to think about what he should now do with his life, and a friend of his father's, Mr Johnsen (Edward Chapman), urges him to invest it in a shop - an idea that Polly hates.
Whilst dawdling in the country on a newly-bought bicycle, Polly meets, and has a brief dalliance with, a schoolgirl, Christabel (Sally Ann Howes). It can't last, and eventually he marries a cousin, Miriam Larkins (Betty Ann Davies), whom he met at his father's wake. It is not a marriage of love, but one of convenience.
15 years pass and Polly and his wife are running a drapers in Fishbourne. Polly hates the shop and the marriage has descended to incessant arguments and bickering.
Whilst walking in the country to get away from his wife, Polly decides to commit suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
but also sets his shop ablaze in the hope the insurance will set Miriam straight. He botches the arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
job and instead of killing himself, rescues an elderly neighbour and becomes a minor local celebrity.
Still unhappy, Polly decides to simply leave Miriam; he walks out and finds his way into the country where he comes across an inn on a riverside. The innkeeper (Megs Jenkins) is seeking a handyman and ferryman. Polly takes the job, but soon realises that the position was open because the innkeeper's brother-in-law is a drunkard who chases any other man away from the inn.Polly ends up having a few run-ins with Uncle Jim (Finlay Currie), who finally accidentally trips and drowns in a weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
when he is chasing Polly. Polly returns to work in the inn.
Several years later, he wonders whether Miriam is getting by. He returns to Fishbourne to find that she has opened a tea-shop with her sister, in the belief that Polly had drowned (Uncle Jim had been wearing a pair of trousers with Polly's name in them when he died). He runs into his ex-wife whilst exiting the tea-shop; she thinks she recognises him and shrinks away in fear, but Polly quietly leaves and returns to his happier life at the inn.
Cast
- John MillsJohn MillsSir John Mills CBE , born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills, was an English actor who made more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades.-Life and career:...
as Alfred Polly - Betty Ann Davies as Miriam Larkins
- Megs JenkinsMegs JenkinsMuguette Mary "Megs" Jenkins was an English character actress who appeared in British films and television programmes.-Life and career:...
as The Innkeeper - Finlay CurrieFinlay CurrieFinlay Jefferson Currie was a Scottish actor of stage, screen and television.Currie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1878. His acting career began on the stage. He and his wife Maude Courtney did a song and dance act in the US in the 1890s. He made his first film in 1931...
as Uncle Jim - Gladys HensonGladys HensonGladys Henson was a British actress whose career lasted from 1932 to 1976 and included roles on stage, radio, films and television series...
as Aunt Larkins - Diana ChurchillDiana Churchill (actress)Diana Churchill was an English film and stage actress.She was born Diana Josephine Churchill in Wembley, Middlesex on 21 August 1913. On leaving school she begged her father to let her train for the stage...
as Annie Larkins - Shelagh FraserShelagh FraserShelagh Fraser was a British actress.She was best-known for her role as Luke Skywalker's ill-fated aunt, Beru Lars in Star Wars...
as Minnie Larkins - Edward ChapmanEdward Chapman (actor)Edward Chapman was an English actor who starred in many films and television programmes, but is chiefly remembered as "Mr. Wilfred Grimsdale", the officious superior and comic foil to Norman Wisdom's character of Pitkin in many of his films from the late 1950s and 1960s.Chapman was born in...
as Mr. Johnsen - Dandy NicholsDandy Nichols-References:* Dandy Nichols at screenonline.* Dandy Nichols at The Museum of Broadcast Communications.-External links:...
as Mrs. Johnson - Sally Ann HowesSally Ann HowesSally Ann Howes is a British actress and singer, who currently holds dual British-American citizenship. Her career on stage, screen and television has spanned over six decades...
as Christabel - Juliet Mills as Little Polly
- Laurence Baskcomb as Mr. Rumbold
- Edie Martin as Lady on roof
- Moore MarriottMoore MarriottMoore Marriott was a British character actor most notable for a series of films he made with Will Hay in the 1930s.-Career:...
as Uncle Pentstemon - David HorneDavid Horne (actor)-Biography:British actor and playwright David Horne began his film career in the 1930s, after a distinguished early career in the theatre. He was generally seen portraying pompous, self-satisfied characters...
as Mr. Garvace - Cyril SmithCyril Smith (actor)Cyril Bruce Smith was a Scottish actor who began his career as a child in the 1900s and went on to appear in over 100 films between 1914 and his death almost 50 years later.-Career:...
as Mr. Voules - Wylie WatsonWylie WatsonWylie Watson was a British actor. Among his best known roles were those of "Mr Memory", an amazing man who commits "50 new facts to his memory every day" in Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film The 39 Steps, and wily storekeeper Joseph Macroon in the Ealing comedy Whisky Galore!...
as Mr. Rusper