In World War II, a failed British officer is selected by his uncle, a brigadier with the War Office, to participate in a secret operation to recover looted artwork from the Germans.In World War II, a failed British officer is selected by his uncle, a brigadier with the War Office, to participate in a secret operation to recover looted artwork from the Germans.In World War II, a failed British officer is selected by his uncle, a brigadier with the War Office, to participate in a secret operation to recover looted artwork from the Germans.
- Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
- 1 nomination total
Henry B. Longhurst
- Mr. Spottiswood
- (as Henry Longhurst)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn addition to playing a German Officer in this movie (mostly speaking in English), Sir Christopher Lee dubbed the voice of the Dennis Price character in the scenes where he is speaking in German.
- GoofsOnce they are all dressed as German soldiers and behind German lines the vehicles they are using should really be left-hand drive (continental), not right-hand drive (British).
- Quotes
Maj. Hitchcock: Good Lord - Windrush! What on earth are you doing dressed up as a Jerry? You're an absolute bounder.
- Crazy creditsAt the end of the opening credits, there is a drawing depicting three officers in the "hear, see & speak no evil" stance with the words "the producers gratefully acknowledge the official cooperation of absolutely nobody.
- ConnectionsEdited into Heroes of Comedy: Terry-Thomas (1995)
Featured review
What a shower you really are.
Upper class toff Stanley Windrush gets called to join the Army half way thru his university eduction, keen he may be, but he really is a fish out of water.
Brought to us from the greatly talented Boulting brothers, is this most adored of British comedies. It's fish out of water plot has been {and will forever be} done to death, but driving this one on is the sly digs at the British class system so evident in the Armed forces from yore. Windrush can't cut it as the officer his standing suggests he should be, so he is promptly sent down amongst the working class, and it's here that the film appeals mainly on the comedy front. Windrush is in with a group of dodgers and bluffers, the army has taken them in, but they are going to take what they can from the army in the process, legal or not! Yet it's here that Windrush learns the most about affinity, friendships and trust, where the classes being broken down provides scope for real good comedy, to which the meeting of the different classes works so well as the makers keenly prod the inside of the cheek with a sharp tongue.
Ian Carmichael is not the most gifted actor to have strode out for Britain, but in the right comedy role he could excel, such is the case here as he delivers the goods as the hapless Windrush. Across the cast list we have got Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price, William Hartnell, Ian Bannen and the sublime Terry-Thomas, all names that are familiar with British movie fans from the black and white period. Private's Progress is a very British picture, the humour isn't of the sledge-hammer kind, it's very subtle and very knowing. But it's a film that I'm sure will go down well with anyone who is willing to invest some good, right frame of mind, time with it.
Not quite the shower Terry-Thomas would have us believe actually. 7/10
Brought to us from the greatly talented Boulting brothers, is this most adored of British comedies. It's fish out of water plot has been {and will forever be} done to death, but driving this one on is the sly digs at the British class system so evident in the Armed forces from yore. Windrush can't cut it as the officer his standing suggests he should be, so he is promptly sent down amongst the working class, and it's here that the film appeals mainly on the comedy front. Windrush is in with a group of dodgers and bluffers, the army has taken them in, but they are going to take what they can from the army in the process, legal or not! Yet it's here that Windrush learns the most about affinity, friendships and trust, where the classes being broken down provides scope for real good comedy, to which the meeting of the different classes works so well as the makers keenly prod the inside of the cheek with a sharp tongue.
Ian Carmichael is not the most gifted actor to have strode out for Britain, but in the right comedy role he could excel, such is the case here as he delivers the goods as the hapless Windrush. Across the cast list we have got Richard Attenborough, Dennis Price, William Hartnell, Ian Bannen and the sublime Terry-Thomas, all names that are familiar with British movie fans from the black and white period. Private's Progress is a very British picture, the humour isn't of the sledge-hammer kind, it's very subtle and very knowing. But it's a film that I'm sure will go down well with anyone who is willing to invest some good, right frame of mind, time with it.
Not quite the shower Terry-Thomas would have us believe actually. 7/10
helpful•180
- hitchcockthelegend
- Aug 10, 2008
- How long is Private's Progress?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Kompaniets svarta får
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 42 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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