Thanks to the UK Talking Pictures Channel I watched this early bit of film absurdity from 1954's Pinewood Studios. Jack Hawkins is miscast and Glynis Johns is utterly wasted in the ' wife ' role. I am also bemused by the certification. On the BBFC site it was given a 15 certificate back in the 1980's, an ' A ' Certificate back on its original release, which is correct as I have looked it up in film magazines of the period. This site gives it a ' U ' certificate which means a person under 16 can see it alone, whereas an ' A ' would have meant accompanied by an adult, and is probably wrong. Apparently it is a non PC film, but it is certainly offensive in having a Maori young woman who does an erotic dance worthy of Brigitte Bardot. This is blatantly a ' Male gaze ' film with all sexist references intact. Kenneth Williams adds hilarity to the film, straining himself to act straight and failing. One sequence is a ' Carry On in New Zealand ' with a violent romp with a semi naked Maori warrior. Its violence was misjudged and badly directed. Despite criticisms which could go on forever it is fun to watch, but I doubt if that was the intention back in 1954. I give it a 4 for Kenneth Williams in a miscast role, but endearing.
Review of Land of Fury
