FILM REVIEWS

In Anthony Kimins’ British comedy, Alec Guinness plays Captain Henry St. James, whose story is told in flashback. When the tale begins, he stands before a firing squad, and the ensuing stor relates the curious events that led to his fate.

Henry is a ship’s captain ferrying a steamer between Gibraltar and North Africa on a regular basis. Adopting the motto of “a girl in every port,” he has a wife on each side of the water. In Gibraltar, there’s Maude (Celia Johnson of “Brief Encounter” fame), a devoted, quite and proper housewife, who keeps the house in order. In North Africa, he has the sexy Nita (Yvonne DeCarlo), a sultry femme who likes to dance and have fun.

For a while, Henry seems to have the best of both worlds. Chief Officer Ricco (Charles Goldner) envies Henry’s rich romantic position.

Things change, when Maude suddenly decides to change her lifestyle and live it up, while Nita goes in the opposite direction, becoming more domesticated and even learning how to cook. Unhappy with the changing circumstances, Henry soon finds he has no spouse on either shore.

Oscar Nominations: 1

Motion Picture Story: Alec Coppel

Oscar Awards: None

Oscar Context:

The winner of the Oscar was Dalton Trumbo (or rather his front, Iam McLellan Hunter, since he was blacklisted) for the comedy, “Roman Holiday.”
Running time: 89 Minutes.
Directed by Anthony Kimmins
Released September 28, 1953 Wide
DVD: August 5, 2003