I love this movie so much

It is a performances centric movie

i must have seen a different film!!

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Without reading the source novel it's difficult to know whether it did have a definite genre in mind, farce, drama, both or neither because what appears on screen are several loose plots any one of which in hands other than inept would make for a satisfying/entertaining diversion; instead each strand is pursued until it runs out of gas whereupon another strand is added. Herbert Lom, who had proved himself a reliable supporting actor was clearly auditioning for leading man status but just as clearly lacked the charisma and despite winding up with Mai Zetterling there is zero chemistry between them. Richard Attenborough is there simply to make up the numbers and act as the catalyst for the 'happy' ending. Not the finest hour of anyone involved.

This movie has a great cast, but I found it a very disappointing experience, especially as I'm a great fan of the stars, Mai Zetterling, Richard Attenborough and Herbert Lom. Many of the support players ring bells with me too, especially Joan Hickson, Hermione Baddeley, Eric Pohlmann, Kathleen Byron, Zena Marshall and Ronald Adam. One wonders how on earth, people of this caliber came to be involved with such a dull and thoroughly disappointing movie. First of all, "hell", either sold out or still open for business, has nothing to do with the wishy-washy plot at all. It's a comedy - yes, a comedy - about a supposedly deceased novelist who wrote a book of that title. Yes, it turns out that reports of the demise were greatly exaggerated. Well, even this idea has promise, but that promise is utterly vitiated by the screenwriter's dull, plodding dialogue and Michael Anderson's unimaginative direction. Even Jack Asher's photography is way, way below his usual high standard. The only good thing about the movie is the agreeable music score contributed by Hans May.

In the days when this film was made the premise of taking over someone else's identity was looked on as a source of comedy.Nowdays it is looked on as a major source of crime.It would no doubt have been made rather differently and one hopes rather more entertainingly.The whole basis of this film seems rather rocky.Lom comes back from the war and finds he has "written" a novel.Whereas Zetterling has taken over his identity.Lom tells her to get out but she doesn't.Attenborough,playing a rather redundant character,falls in love with her.In the meantime Lom rather changes his mind and opts for Zetterling becoming his wife.Quite frankly the plot sounds as soppy as it sounds.Definitely not one of Lom or Attenborough's better films.

Although Dickie Attenborough was developing as an actor at this stage in his career, he was relying on his friend, John Mills, to furnish him with roles. He plays a mediocre character in this film which makes me think that he is going sideways rather than progressing as an actor.