Review for The Birthday Present

Another surprisingly enjoyable film from Network’s relentless mission to release some 450 little-seen gems from British cinema, in partnership with Studio Canal.

This earnest, slightly worthy but highly entertaining addition might almost be seen as a piece of social propaganda were it not so convincingly played out by its leading man, Tony Britton.

Indeed, despite the fact that this has been little-seen since its original release in 1957, it was BAFTA-nominated and quite a success at the time of its release. Returning from a business trip, toy salesman Simon Scott is caught attempting to smuggle a diamond wristwatch – bought for his wife's birthday – through Customs. Rather than simply putting inside his cigarette case, as he had originally intended, in a mad moment he decided to hide it in the base of a model car.


Whilst going through customs, the model car attracts the enthusiastic attention of one of the workers who can’t help admire its workmanship.  Unfortunately, whilst looking at where the batteries might go he inadvertently reveals the hidden watch.


Scott is then arrested and, due to a bungled defense by his solicitor, and the fact that he has taken such pains to hide the watch which has aroused suspicions that he may be a professional smuggler, he is obliged to serve a three-month prison sentence. And that’s where the trouble really starts. In a ‘riches to rags due to a moment of madness’ we watch in discomfort as his absence at work starts to cause gossip, and worse rumblings in the board-room that he has to go. His wife, played by the glamorous Sylvia Syms, remains loyal but when he loses his job and cannot get another things start to look pretty bleak.

OK – it’s no ‘Midnight Express’  - but it’s a compelling watch and Britton and Syms both offer upfairly convincing turns. It’s also another delightful time-capsule for those who enjoy such things, immersing the viewer in Britain of the late 1950’s, where everyone deals with everything by lighting up a cigarette.

Directed by Pat Jackson (Western Approaches (1945), Snowball (1960) and What a Carve Up! (1961)) the transfer here looks incredibly good – all bar a few ‘tram-lines’ about mid-way through the film which look beyond repair but which are fleeting and won’t spoil your enjoyment.



The film comes with a promotional PDF as well as a copy of an article in a Film magazine.



Well worth picking up.