The black sheep of a family is befriended by a minister. A case of mistaken identity leads both men to discover their true vocations during the American War of Independence. Historical drama based on George Bernard Shaw's play, starring Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier
Burt Lancaster took a shine to George Bernard Shaw's comedy of mistaken identity, set during the American War of Independence. So he lured his buddy Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier into co-starring with him and hired Alexander Mackendrick, who made Sweet Smell of Success with Lancaster, to direct. Mackendrick later quit and was replaced by Guy Hamilton. Like so many Shavian adaptations, it sits on the screen like a lump of stodge, the stilted dialogue slowing up the action. Lancaster plays a preacher; Douglas is the good-for-nothing who gets mistaken for him. Olivier, as a British general, plays to the gallery, delighting Douglas so much he cast him in Spartacus the following year.
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Anthony Anderson | Burt Lancaster |
| Richard Dudgeon | Kirk Douglas |
| General Burgoyne | Laurence Olivier |
| Judith Anderson | Janette Scott |
| Mrs Dudgeon | Eva Le Gallienne |
| Major Swindon | Harry Andrews |
| Lawyer Hawkins | Basil Sydney |
| British sergeant | George Rose |
| Reverend Maindeck Parshotter | Mervyn Johns |
| role | name |
|---|---|
| Director | Guy Hamilton |
| Director | Alexander Mackendrick |
