British nonconformist comedy from 1958, a presagement—though more controlled and responsible—of
A Thousand Clowns and
Harold and Maude. Alec Guinness has one of his most engaging roles as Gully Jimson, bohemian artist and professional sponger, who dreams of painting the world's largest explosion of abstract expressionism. Devotees of Joyce Cary's novel complain about the film's softening of the character, but Guinness's performance remains a model of deft obnoxiousness. This entertaining trifle was directed by Ronald Neame, who went on (if that's the phrase) to the monolithic entertainment of
The Poseidon Adventure and
Meteor.
By
Dave Kehr
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