Nothing But The Best (12) |Home Ents Review

August 30, 2024 Colin Dibben

Dir. Clive Donner, UK, 1964, 99 mins

Cast: Alan Bates, Denholm Elliot, Millicent Martin

Review by Colin Dibben

This dark and acerbic 1960s British comedy explores our obsession with the ‘haves’ and their high-class mores through the tinted lenses of an ambitious working-class young man. The lenses in question are both green with envy and red with desire. Maybe there’s a tinge of murderous crimson in there too.

Young northerner James Brewster (Bates) works at a large London firm of property developers. He is champing at the bit to cut successful deals and enjoy the same material prizes that he sees the rich owners of the firm take as their due. The ultimate prize for James is the boss’ daughter, Ann (Martin).

James meets down-at-heel Charles (Elliot) in a cheap restaurant. Despite his poverty, Charles has everything that James wants, namely upper-class arrogance and impeccable tailoring. In return for a room to live in and loans for drink and betting, Charles agrees to tutor James in the life skills which he thinks are necessary to succeed.

A witty if inherently snobbish script by Frederic Raphael, crisp colour photography by Nic Roeg and a wonderful array of British character actors make this an enjoyable comic watch despite the dark turn halfway through. There’s some nice location shooting – it lifts the spirit to see London in a more optimistic age.

Both Alan Bates and Denholm Elliot are on good form here and there is a wonderfully disturbing turn by Pauline Delaney as James’ lascivious landlady Mrs March.