The History of Mr Polly

About this Broadcast

A daydreaming Victorian clerk comes into a large inheritance, which he invests in setting himself up as a gentlemen's outfitter. However, his lacklustre business and hasty marriage to a crabby harridan only bring unhappiness, so he begins to make desperate plans to escape. Period comedy based on HG Wells' novel, starring John Mills, Betty Ann Davies, Sally Ann Howes and Finlay Currie

1949 subtitles

Comedy Historical/Period Drama Literary Adaptation Movie/Drama

Cast & Crew

John Mills (Actor) .. Alfred Polly

Betty Ann Davies (Actor) .. Miriam

Finlay Currie (Actor) .. Uncle Jim

Diana Churchill (Actor) .. Annie

Shelagh Fraser (Actor) .. Minnie

Sally Ann Howes (Actor) .. Christabel

Edward Chapman (Actor) .. Mr Johnson

Moore Marriott (Actor) .. Uncle Pentstemon

Megs Jenkins (Actor) .. Plump woman

Anthony Pelissier (Director)

More Information

Did You Know..

John Mills (Actor) .. Alfred Polly

Born: February 22, 1908 in Norfolk

Best Known For: A distinguished film and TV career.

Early-life: Born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills at the Watts Naval School in North Elmham, Norfolk on February 22, 1908. His father was a teacher and his mother worked as a theatre box-office manager. John trained as a dancer in London at Zelia Raye's Dancing School and began appearing as a chorus boy in revues on the London stage.

Career: Mills made his film debut in The Midshipmaid (1932) and went on to appear in a number of films, including Goodbye, Mr Chips (1939), before he enlisted in the Royal Engineers at the start of the Second World War. His war was cut short in 1942 by a stomach ulcer. He quickly returned to acting and went on to star in a number of acclaimed films in a career that spanned 70 years. Notable works included Great Expectations (1946), Scott of the Antarctic (1948), The Colditz Story (1954), Ice Cold in Alex (1958), Tunes of Glory (1960), Swiss Family Robinson (1960), Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Ryan's Daughter (1970), Young Winston (1972), Gandhi (1982) and Hamlet (1996). Among his roles on TV, he starred in Quatermass, Young at Heart, A Woman of Substance and Martin Chuzzlewit. He also appeared in a number of productions on Broadway. He was knighted in 1976. He died on April 23, 2005, at the age of 97.

Quote: 'One of the luckiest things that ever happened to me was to be born with a desperate desire to become an actor.'

Trivia: Father of actors Juliet and Haley Mills. Won an Academy Award for Ryan's Daughter. He portrayed a military character, usually an officer, in a number of films.