Purely because we couldn't find Man in the White Suit this unseen number presented itself and was the sort of funny Ealing film we needed, though it was a surprise to see an MGM logo at the beginning of it (the studios had by then been sold to the BBC). TEB Clarke's screenplay opens with the nautical history of seasick sailor's family, including two great gags - "the family has always moved in nautical circles" and a man being boiled by natives in a cauldron which is impossibly small (a neat trick shot).
Lacks the bite of Ealing's best films and is somewhat capsized by a particularly silly ending, but fun nonetheless. Loved the wonky house set. Crap title is what probably put us off watching it so long.
Photography by Douglas Slocombe, music John Addison.
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