A Man About the House
Directed by Leslie Arliss
Written by Leslie Arliss, John Perry, and J.B. Williams from a novel by Francis Brett Young
1947/UK
British Lion Film Corporation
First viewing/Amazon Instant
This Gaslight-inspired thriller is pretty good.
Agnes and Ellen Islit are two impoverished English spinsters. Out of the blue, they inherit their long lost uncle’s estate in Italy. The straight-laced Agnes doesn’t want to have anything to do with the place but reluctantly agrees to the romantic Ellen’s desire to at least see the property. They arrive with Agnes intent on selling out and returning to England. Agnes is the prototypical Englishwoman believing that her way is the only correct way of doing things.
Ellen is immediately enchanted but it takes butler Salvatore to make Agnes warm to Italy. She warms to him at the same time. But unbeknownst to the women, Salvatore believes the property, which historically belonged to his ancestors, is rightfully his …
This took quite awhile to become a thriller. It begins as more of a travelogue/romance with Moore being convincing as a life-loving Italian. The ending is telegraphed. Quite competently made but not a must view.
