Private's Progress
Stanley Windrush is compelled to interrupt his university studies when he is called up near the war's end. He quickly proves he is not officer material, but he befriends the wily Private Percival Cox, who knows exactly how all the scams operate in the muddled world of the British Army. And Stanley's brigadier War Office uncle seems to be up to something more than merely shady—and the two are soon working for him, behind the enemy lines.
Director(s)
John Boulting
Olga Brook
Philip Shipway
Cast & Crew
Details
Reviews
John Chard
What a shower you really are. Upper class toff Stanley Windrush gets called to join the Army half way thru his university eduction, keen he may be, but he really is a fish out of water. Brought to us from the greatly talented Boulting brothers, is this most adored of British comedies. It's fish out of water plot has been {and will forever be} done to death, but driving this one on is the sly digs at the British class system so evident in the Armed forces from yore. Windrush can't cut it as the officer his standing suggests he should be, so he is promptly sent down amongst the working class, and it's here that the film appeals mainly on the comedy front. Windrush is in with a group of dodgers and bluffers, the army has taken them in, but they are going to take what they can from the army in the process, legal or not! Yet it's here that Windrush learns the most about affinity, friendships and trust, where the classes being broken down provides scope for real good comedy, to which the meeting of the different classes works so well as the makers keenly prod the inside of the cheek with a sharp tongue. Ian Carmichael is not the most gifted actor to have strode out for Britain, but in the right comedy role he could excel, such is the case here as he delivers the goods as the hapless Windrush. Across the cast list we have got Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price, William Hartnell, Ian Bannen and the sublime Terry-Thomas, all names that are familiar with British movie fans from the black and white period. Private's Progress is a very British picture, the humour isn't of the sledge-hammer kind, it's very subtle and very knowing. But it's a film that I'm sure will go down well with anyone who is willing to invest some good, right frame of mind, time with it. Not quite the shower Terry-Thomas would have us believe actually. 7/10
Part of the Series
Private's Progress FAQs
The directors of Private's Progress are John Boulting, Olga Brook, and Philip Shipway.
The cast of Private's Progress includes George Coulouris as Padre, John Le Mesurier as Psychiatrist, Peter Jones as Arthur Egan, Marianne Stone as Miss Sugden, William Hartnell as Sgt. Sutton, Henry Oscar as Art Expert, Ian Bannen as Private Horrocks, Thorley Walters as Captain Bootle, Dennis Price as Brig. Bertram Tracepurcel, Richard Attenborough as Pvt. Percival Henry Cox, Brian Oulton as M.O. at Gravestone Camp, Derrick De Marney as Pat, and more.
The duration of Private's Progress is 1h 37 mins.
Private's Progress was released on 17 Feb 1956.
Private's Progress is listed under Comedy and War on Fanbiz.
Private's Progress has 1 review on Fanziz, with an average rating of 7.0/10. One reviewer wrote: "What a shower you really are. Upper class toff Stanley Windrush gets called to join the Army half way thru his university eduction, keen he may be, but he really is a fish ou..."
