Folly to Be Wise

While Alistair Sim as the padre gives his usual sparkling, witty performance as the chairman of a sort of 'Brains Trust' Panel programme for the soldiers In camp, sadly nothing else sparkles in this laboured and tedious film. The storyline is based around having several local well known personalities to give their personal, but somewhat idiosyncratic views on questions sent in by the young serving men and women of the British army, ostensibly to educate and entertain. However, the whole thing falls flat on its face and fails to ignite any potential humour. The panelists are essentially stuffy, unfunny, middle class stereotypes, who squabble and exchange insults in front of the audience. There are several very good actors in the cast such as Roland Culver, Colin Gordon, Edward Chapman and Martita Hunt, but despite their talents, they're wasted in this unfunny and very dated film.