ComedyDrama

The Final Test

Legendary England cricketer Sam Palmer (Jack Warner) is due to bat in his final test match against Australia. He is desperate for his son Reggie (Ray Jackson) to see his final innings. But Reggie prefers poetry to cricket and when he is offered the opportunity to read his poetry to England's greatest playwright Alexander Whitehead (Robert Morley) on the last day of the test, the relationship between father and son is tested to the limit. As Sam prepares for his final knock, the conflict with his son weighs heavily on his mind, but he is also upset over England's young batsman and ladies-man, Syd Thompson (George Relph), dating the woman whom he hopes to marry.

Release Date : 1953-04-09

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : A.C.T. FilmsJ. Arthur Rank Organisation

Production Country : United Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Sam Palmer

Original Name : Jack Warner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alexander Whitehead

Original Name : Robert Morley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Syd Thompson

Original Name : George Relph

Gender : Male

Character Name : Aunt Ethel

Original Name : Adrianne Allen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Reggie Palmer

Original Name : Ray Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cora

Original Name : Brenda Bruce

Gender : Female

Character Name : Senator

Original Name : Stanley Maxted

Gender : Male

Character Name : Miss Fanshawe

Original Name : Joan Swinstead

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr Willis

Original Name : John Glyn-Jones

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Len Hutton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Denis Compton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Alec Bedser

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Godfrey Evans

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Jim Laker

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself

Original Name : Cyril Washbrook

Gender : Male

Character Name : Himself (Voice)

Original Name : John Arlott

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frank Weller

Original Name : Richard Bebb

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spectator

Original Name : Hyma Beckley

Gender : Male

Character Name : Television Actor

Original Name : Valentine Dyall

Gender : Male

Character Name : Taxi Driver

Original Name : Fred Griffiths

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr Harborne

Original Name : Roddy Hughes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Unpleasant Pub Customer

Original Name : Duncan Lamont

Gender : Male

Character Name : Railway Porter

Original Name : Johnnie Schofield

Gender : Male

Character Name : Daisy

Original Name : Anita Sharp-Bolster

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cricket Fan

Original Name : Richard Wattis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Television Announcer

Original Name : Audrey White

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ticket Collector

Original Name : Ben Williams

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-12-29

This starts with quite an enjoyable assessment of this most English of games (it's not a sport, you know) with the rules and the prospect of playing for five days without a result explained to a visiting and bemused American senator (Stanley Maxted). Meantime, with his dad "Sam" (Jack Warner) about to make his last appearance for England in that very test match, his young son "Reggie" (Ray Jackson) faces a bit of a quandary. He is expected to be at the ground to watch this momentous moment, but he is also determined to finish his poem that he wants to send to acclaimed playwright "Whitehead" (Robert Morley). Next thing, he's missed the match but luckily his father has yet to make his appearance, so there's some breathing room next day. Wait, no! He's been invited by his idol to his rural home to present his latest work. He can't do both, and so coming clean with his father - and borrowing the train fare - he sets off to the countryside. Luckily, this writer is a typically eccentric Englishman who loves his cricket, but can they make it there in time? It's based on Terence Rattigan's short play that I felt rather potently illustrated not just that the choices made by a new generation might not always impress their parents, but also it rather poignantly demonstrates the temporariness of success on the field of play. Noisily acclaimed til you too are replaced as you once did that to another, whilst the appreciative crowd applaud but are eager to transfer that loyalty to your successor. Warner plays the role sparingly and he rather engagingly epitomises this widowed character at a crossroads in his life that will see his son start to make his own decisions whilst maybe local barmaid "Cora" (Brenda Bruce) can start a new chapter with him? Morley is at his lively best and there's also an enjoyable role for Adrianne Allen as the auntie trying to keep things peaceable whilst all her fine china becomes tomorrow's jigsaw puzzles. The production is basic but there's quite a fun scene towards the end with Morley, Jackson, a car and some backdrop filming to top off an entertainingly simple story of family and opportunity.