Reflecting something of the song itself, the film depicts the ups and downs of Lil (played by Betty Balfour) and Bert (Michael Hogan) over their forty years of married life. Gordon Harker plays their somewhat curmudgeonly lodger Ernie. Its unchallenging, but doesn't get bogged down in sentimentality, reflecting the realities of family life during the period with humour, stoicism and occasional sadness. The majestic Florrie Forde has a minor role and there are snatches of several of the songs that she helped make famous in the film.
2 Reviews
Lacks a climax
malcolmgsw23 June 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Gordon Harker and Michael Forgan are friends who both fall for Betty Bronson early in the twentieth century.Bronson chooses Dorgan and Barker is their lodger.They have a son Jim who is a flyer.Jim marries a wealthy girl before demonstration.He is killed in action.His wife falls out with her father,Peter Cawthorne.She goes to live with Bronson and dies in childbirth.They keep the child despite the legal challenge of Cawthorne.Dorgan is injured in a fire and Bronson gives up the child to Cawthorne.At the end they are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary and young Jim sends a telegram.Strange that Barker is given him equal top billing when he is clearly supporting Bronson and Dorgan.The film just tails off at the end when it cries out for either a climactic confrontation with Cawthorne or being reunited with young Jim. Incidentally you will see a very young Ronnie Shiner and Florrie Forde in a very brief role.
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