His Excellency (1952) User Reviews

Culture Clash

[malcolmgsw · 5/10 · 7 January 2012]

This film has not been shown on TV in well over 20years and i don't think it has been released on TV.Alas it is not some forgotten masterpiece rather a dull comedy drama from Ealing. The film is set in the period of the 1945-51 Labour government.Portman plays a trade union official who has been appointed High Commissioner above a career diplomat played by Cecil Parker and his snobbish wife played by Helen Cherry..The film revolves around culture clashes inside the embassy and in the dockyards.His daughter has to fight and ultimately quell a rebellion in the kitchen of the Consulate whilst Portman has to do likewise with the local populace who are led by Geoffrey Keen in dark make up.The film is extremely dated and reeks of comments on class relationships.It is difficult to know whom this film could appeal to and is evidence of the gradual decline in Ealing which would lead to its closure in 1955. Incidentally the locale looks like Gibraltar or Malta but it is in fact located in Sicily.Apparently Jill Cragie claimed that the BBFC decided that the film could not be set in those locations,which she says it was really about.No doubt bad for the image of Britain.

An enjoyable film

[cthwlms · 7/10 · 26 November 2018]

It had a strong story and good characters. The characterisation of the daughter is a bit dated ! Surely it wasn't all filmed at Ealing?

Typical British film of the time.

[rxelex · 7/10 · 18 December 2019]

THis film is worth watching for the stereotyping so prominent in British films of the time and even more prominent in later films. Film was made purely for British and colonial audiences. Storyline is Brits in Empire outpost see themselves as outcasts passing the yearrs until they can go home to the Home Counties of England . Characterisations provided the mould for the glut of soap operas on British TV these days.

Weak film made worse.

[robrobinson-06829 · 2/10 · 29 March 2024]

I watched this as part of an Ealing Studios rarities collection. These collections are always hit and miss affairs with the quality of the films varying wildly from very good to, like this one, really, really poor.

First of all the story is weak beyond belief, concerning an ex docker appointed as Governor of a British colony in the Mediterranean. A situation like this has endless possibilities but the producers went for the lazy option of having the ex docker trying to quell a volatile dock strike. Normally in Ealing films a weak storyline can be overcome with charm but I'm afraid one actor put paid to any chance of that happening..... My main quibble is with the performance of Eric Portman as the new Governor. His portrayal of the no nonsense, plain speaking Yorkshireman is so bad it spills over into caricature and worse. He spends the whole film shouting and barking at everyone in sight. This goes beyond irritating and becomes incredibly annoying. I could hear and understand everyone else very clearly but at points he was unintelligible. I've seen Mr Portman in many films and he was a very good actor but he was terrible in this.

I've never given any film such a low star rating but I'm afraid Mr Portman is to blame for that. If you haven't seen it and you're tempted, please don't waste your time.