Basic but enjoyable Ordinarily, this isn't the kind of film I would choose to sit down and watch, however as a Film Studies student, it is compulsory. The film starts of as all Ealing's do, aquainting you with the characters, the policeman, the milk-maids, the village aristocracy and whatnot. However it does take a darker-than-expected plot strand of trusting English villagers allowing German troops to take up residence in the village hall. The audience knows from the start and there are clues to the villagers all the way through. "'Ere, you're behavin' like a German" was, I believe uttered at one point.
The acting and cinematography are standard to the time, however it is it's plot that makes it differ. The movie almost becomes a dated version of 'Die Hard' towards the ending with the hostages (led by a Seaman home for his wedding) picking off the German's one by one and taking their weapons. However likening a classic Ealing movie to 'Die Hard' does seem somewhat sacreligious.
Social representation is also a treat to watch in movies such as this. The "good English folk" are too trusting, the residents of the Village Manor are your quintessential English folk, (tea-time, pipes and all) and the working classes are good "salt of the Earth folk". Even anti-war campaigners can feel proud to be British after watching this movie.
"Went the Day Well? We died and never knew. But, well or ill, freedom, we died for you."