The Mysterious Mr. Davis (1940) User Reviews

Surrel Comedy

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 9 April 2014]

I think that this film was made in 1938.In any event it gives an insight into the financial chicanery of the era which led to a general recession in 1938,causing the financial collapse of many film companies including Gaumont British and Twickenham studios.Henry Kendall is in a bad way financially.So he is wanted as a stooge for a shady transaction.He has second thoughts ,invents a partner,Mr Davis,manages to get his hands on some junk bonds and creates the illusion of wealth.Meanwhile Alastair Sim is coming in and out of the film as a financier whose had a mental breakdown.Kendall picks a W.Davis out of the phone book and she becomes involved in this strange film.Much of what lacks coherence and makes hardly any sense.It ends happily,

Alastair Sim Gets a Rocket

[richardchatten · 2/10 · 18 October 2020]

The only English-language film by one of France's leading directors of the postwar era is a very poor man's 'Lieutenant Kije' with a very noisy score directed by John Reynders desperately trying to convince us how hilarious this all is (which it briefly is when a wild-eyed young Alastair Sim bursts in giving what is possibly the hammiest performance of his career as 'The Lunatic').

Worth watching? Best check with Mr Davis.

[trimmerb1234 · 7/10 · 24 October 2015]

The lead, Henry Kendal, described in IMDb as an "immaculately stylish revue artiste" at first appears rather miscast as an unemployed family man whose finances are so desperate that the gas to their small drab rented flat has just been cut off and landlord pressing for the unpaid rent. However as the ingenious, amusing, almost plausible plot unfolds and pace increases, the wisdom of the casting becomes clear. Alastair Sim, in his 24th film since his first just 4 years earlier, plays a lunatic. A young Guy Middleton plays a meaner version of the character he went on to make his own.

This is a film version of a book and it shares, with film versions of stage plays, a well-sorted story. I think it would make a good am-dram stage play.

Rating? Check with Davis - he says 7

I watched today on TALKING PICTURES TV UK Freeview Ch81