Apr

‘Make Me an Offer’ – 1956 Peter Finch

This is not a film I know OR remember but I was struck to find that this was in Colour – and was actually quite good.

Looking it up, I see that Peter Finch describes this as, in his opinion, the best film he ever made. He says that he had a big part and was on screen in almost every scene. This came soon afetr his memorable portrayal of The Sheriff of Nottingham in ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ – a role that got him to the attention of many senior figures in the film industry.

The film was made by ‘Group 3’ – I remember them for the film they made before this ‘The Blue Peter’. set in Aberdovey in Wales at an outward bound school. I love that film

The story sees Peter Finch as Charlie, who having as as a boy fell in love with a Portland Vase during a trip to a museum, takes up his calling in life as an antiques dealer. However, we find Charlie in adulthood struggling to make the business work, he mopes around grumbling about the poverty line; grumbling that heaps further strain on his marriage and ability to run a steady home.

It may have seemed that an answer to all his problems may have landed in his lap with a chance meeting with Nicky (Adrienne Corri)

On a visit to her cottage, Charlie spies the Vase, but if he thought that Nicky was just a pretty face, and ripe for a picking, well he’s in for a little more than he bargained for.

Directed by Cyril Frankel (director of School For Scoundrels after Robert Hamer was fired for his drinking problems), Make Me An Offer is adapted from the novel written by Wolf Mankowitz (who inputs additional dialogue to the screenplay from W.P. Lipscomb).

The cast includes Peter Finch and Adrienne Corri along with Ernest Thesiger, Wilfrid Lawson, Alfie Bass, Rosalie Crutchley & Finlay Currie. Richard O’Sullivan appears as Charlie the boy.

Filmed in Eastman Colour, the film has a charm that takes us back to a charming part of England . Set as it is in the antiques business, money is naturally an overriding factor, but although Charlie {Finch } yearns to provide his wife Bella (Crutchley) with a fur coat he has long since promised her, monetary gain is not the issue here.