The History of Mr Polly – 1949 | 95 mins | Drama | B&W

Plot Synopsis

Sparkling Victorian comedy drama based on H.G. Wells classic novel. Writer/director Anthony Pelissier’s screenplay is pleasantly faithful to its source material and the exceptionally engrossing John Mills gives one of the finest performances of his career.

Mr Alfred Polly (John Mills) is a sensitive soul. His job as a draper’s assistant does not suit him at all and when, one day he is sacked for daydreaming, he despairs of ever finding another job. His father’s death suddenly brings him a large inheritance, and with it he purchases a bike and sets off to find adventure. He meets and falls desperately in love with a young schoolgirl (Sally Ann Howes), but the relationship turns sour when her friends hear of it. Spurned, he hastily marries his cousin, Miriam (Betty Ann Davies), and settles in a sleepy town where he opens a draper’s shop. Fifteen years later, his life unfulfilled, unhappily married to a domineering spouse, and almost bankrupt, it’s time for him to make decisions.

His first thoughts are to burn down his shop and commit suicide, but he finally strikes out into the rural countryside leaving Miriam behind. Whist walking through the countryside he encounters the Potwell Inn, and settles down as a handyman at the small country inn run when offered a job by the innkeeper (Megs Jenkins). The only fly in the ointment to Mr. Polly’s idyllic new life is Uncle Jim (Finlay Currie), a fearsome drunk who terrorises the owner on a regular basis.