History of Mr. Polly, The

Date: 1949
Director: Anthony Pelissier
Production Company: Two Cities Films

Stars: John Mills, Betty Ann Davies, Megs Jenkins, Moore Marriott, Finlay Currie
Location(s): Buckinghamshire

Region(s):

Storyline:

A quiet daydreamer of a man uses an inheritance to marry and set up business in a small town, but his heart is in neither.

Additional Information:

Screen captures by Phil Wilkinson

Jimmy Snow, special effects technician, for whom we have a fulsome summary of his career written by his granddaughter Brigitte, together with her memories of him, worked on this film. All that she has shared with us can be read here.

 

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We are aware that there are films on the site that were added when the criteria for the inclusion of locations was very different from today and, as a result, there may be scenes missing from some productions. Please do not forward additional screen captures to us but bring the detail to our attention, for we do, and are, 're-addressing' these older entries as time allows.

  • Capture 1
  • 13 Jul 2022

As clocks around town strike 3, Mr. Garvace asks employees if they have seen Mr. Polly who has been missing from his position in the drapery shop for some time. The Town Hall on Queen Victoria Road in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

The very same . . . a while before 3 though. (PW)

  • Capture 2
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After being fired, Alfred Polly (John Mills) takes stock of his life when he fails to find another job. A back projection that features the Lambeth Lead Works shot tower and the Red Lion Brewery, a site that was later to be occupied by the Festival of Britain followed by the Royal Festival Hall.

  • Capture 3
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The young Alfred's wanderings take him into the countryside where he meets a schoolgirl, Christabel. Likely to be somewhere near the studios in Buckinghamshire.

  • Capture 4
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Following his marriage to Miriam Larkins, the newly weds set off on their honeymoon.

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Fifteen years later, Alfred is running a drapery business in fictional Fishbourne while his marriage has descended to bickering and arguing.

  • Capture 6
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Literary notes indicate that Fishbourne is likely to be modelled on Sandgate in Kent. Considering some of the later scenes, this could even be a set.

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Following an unsuccessful suicide attempt and arson as part of an insurance fraud, Alfred wanders away from his wife and business to find himself becoming employed as a ferryman at the rural Potwell Inn. A prop built for the film, maybe?

  • Capture 8
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Years later, Alfred returns to Fishbourne to find that Miriam and her Sister have turned his old premises into a tea-shop.