Skip to content

LAST HOLIDAY (1950)

Written By:

Rachel Knightley
last holiday

LAST HOLIDAY (1950) / CERT: U / DIRECTOR: HENRY CASS / SCREENPLAY: J. B. PRIESTLEY / STARRING: ALEC GUINNESS, BEATRICE CAMPBELL, KAY WALSH / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

J.B. Priestley’s ability to force his audience to count their blessings is at its sweet and sinister prime in Last Holiday. On the surface, a far simpler concoction than classics like An Inspector Calls or Time and the Conways, it stars Alec Guinness as George Bird, a mild-mannered, even more mild-living salesman, whose accidental misdiagnosis by a tired doctor leads him to think his last days are upon him. He spends his savings at a ‘posh’ hotel where he finds he fits right in with new friends he wouldn’t have had the courage or imagination to approach in the past. His life opens up with job offers and romantic proposals, but only he knows what’s stopping him jumping at all the opportunities.

Sid James as entrepreneur Joe is a delightful mismatch with Guinness, giving a familiar character type a refreshingly different context in a story that champions taking life’s opportunities, not just for yourself but, more importantly, the opportunities to offer kindness to others. While its class politics are dated, the script is ahead of its time in asking us to notice people for who they were and how they behaved to each other, not their background. There are great illustrations not only of how to be on the lookout to assist each other, but how there will always be those who raise their game to take new offers and opportunities life throws them, and those who don’t – that we make our own lives and choices more than a lot of us care to recognise or admit.

The stills gallery won’t change your life, but it’s worth navigating a somewhat iffy sound balance to enjoy the twenty-five-minute interview with cultural historian Matthew Sweet. Priestley’s sense of fate, his expression both of human agency and its limits, is never going to guarantee a happy acceptance both of our agency and its limits mean there’s no guarantee of a happy ending but make Last Holiday’s touching script and gorgeous symbolism a perfect watch right now. See it as a poignant, amusing romance or as a gently sinister reminder about gratitude and awareness, that free will is also a call to arms.

Rachel Knightley

You May Also Like...

darth maul in clone wars star wars animated series

Lucasfilm Announces MAUL: SHADOW LORD Animated Series

Fan-favourite Star Wars villain Darth Maul is getting his own series, titled Maul: Shadow Lord. The new animated series for Disney+ was announced at Star Wars Celebration in the final minutes
Read More
julia garner as silver surfer in trailer for the fantastic four: first steps

THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS Releases Full Trailer

A new trailer for the Fantastic Four’s highly anticipated MCU debut, The Fantastic Four: First Steps, finally reveals a first look at Julia Garner’s Silver Surfer. While the trailer had debuted earlier this month
Read More

Tigon Legend Remembered at SEASIDE SCREAMS

This June, Tigon British Film Productions founder Tony Tenser will be celebrated with a one-day event in his adopted home, Southport. Seaside Screams: A Day of Tony Tenser and Tigon
Read More
jessica chastain in the 355

Jessica Chastain To Star In Rob Savage’s INCIDENTS AROUND THE HOUSE

Jessica Chastain is making a return to horror, as Deadline reports that the Oscar-winning actress has signed on to star in the latest film from director Rob Savage. Atomic Monster
Read More
jurassic world dominion actor sam neill joins monsterverse film

Sam Neill Joins GODZILLA X KONG Follow-Up

Graduating from dinosaurs to kaiju, Sam Neill is the latest actor to join the next MonsterVerse movie at Legendary. The Jurassic Park veteran joins Kaitlyn Dever, who is also new
Read More
killer klowns from outer space 1988 film

Ryan Gosling Producing KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE Remake?

There have been many promised returns of the Killer Klowns from Outer Space, first seen in the original 1988 movie. Over the years, there have been a proposed television series,
Read More