Left, Right and Centre — Left, Right and Centre( Blu Ray)
Left, Right and Centre is a star-studded 1959 political satire from director Sidney Gilliat (The Great Manhunt, Green For Danger and The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery). The film stars Ian Carmichael (From Beyond the Grave, I’m Alright Jack and The Lady Vanishes), Alistair Sim (An Inspector Calls, A Christmas Carol and The Belles of St Trinian’s), Patricia Bredin (The Secret of Monte Cristo, The Bridal Path and To Have and To Hold), Richard Wattis (The Man Who Knew Too Much, The Longest Day and Tam Lin) and Hattie Jacques (Carry on Camping, Carry on Cabbie and Sykes).
Popular TV Star, and the nephew of a local lord, Robert Wilcot (Carmichael) is standing as the Tory candidate in the town of Earndale. Standing against him, for Labour, is Stella Stoker (Bredin), the daughter of a local fishmonger, who has a degree from the London School of Economics. The pair meet on a train travelling up to Earndale and while Wilcot doesn’t realise who he is talking to, Stoker cottons on pretty quickly. During their train conversation, Wilcot brags to Stoker that he expects to win the election. He also reveals some embarrassing information about himself, he has rarely ever been to Earndale at all. Once they arrive in Earndale, both characters become immediately aware of who the other is, and how they should not have been fraternising with one another. However, the pair have begun to fall for one another, and while their campaign managers scheme to wreck each other’s campaign, our love birds are doing everything within their power to promote one another.
Left, Right and Centre is a fun British comedy with an all-star cast that looks at the battle to win a by-election in the town of Earndale. As much as the relationship between the candidates sounds like the key factor in the story, it’s actually the kinship of the two campaign managers (played by Richard Wattis and Eric Barker) who work together, despite being at opposite ends of the political spectrum to try to ensure their clients stay apart from one another. The rest of the cast is good and the whole thing has a very pleasant vibe. It’s not the finest British comedy of the era, however, it is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-written and directed romp.
This release from Powerhouse Films is delineated for the American market only and is locked to Region A. It’s also released in a limited run of just 3,000 units. The disc features an audio commentary from Michael Brooke, a featurette by Josephine Botting discussing the way Left, Right and Centre represents celebrity, politics and TV. There is an archival interview with John Box, a short film called Election in Britain and an image gallery. The set also comes with a comprehensive booklet featuring a new essay by Matthew Bailey and Melanie Williams which looks at the relationship between Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder.
This is a really nice debut on Blu-ray for an underappreciated British comedy that deserves to be re-evaluated. If you’re a fan of classic 50s, and 60s British comedy like the Carry on films, then you’ll probably appreciate this.