This fairly entertaining, surrealist musical fantasy is handled in a very curious style by director Christopher Miles. The surrealist dialogue scenes are put across perfectly straight with the director pointedly making himself as unobtrusive as possible. This stratagem throws the fantasy burden completely upon the actors, some of whom (particularly the normally reliable Richard Wattis) fail to bear up at all well. Fortunately the little-known Ronald Radd is absolutely excellent as the gang leader, while Ifield himself makes a surprisingly attractive straight man.
By contrast, Miles (or maybe someone else) has directed the musical numbers in a vibrantly lively and exciting manner. The camera whirls and zooms in such a deliciously uninhibited fashion, it's amazing to me that "Up Jumped a Swagman" never became a cult favorite. Of course, right now the movie is completely forgotten. It's never been aired on television — which is good, because it wouldn't fit anyway; but letterboxed would be better than nothing.
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