Last Holiday

1950

1h 29m

Comedy

Drama

List

100%

Tomatometer

8 Reviews

77%

Audience Score

250+ Ratings

When ordinary middle-class salesman George Bird (Alec Guinness) is diagnosed with a rare and fatal illness, he decides to spend his few remaining days in luxury. Cashing in his savings, he buys a fancy new wardrobe and poses as a wealthy businessman at a posh seaside resort. Unexpectedly, the dying man's luck begins to change during his holiday, from winning at gambling to establishing friendships with his fellow guests, most notably Sheila Rockingham (Beatrice Campbell).

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Joseph Jon Lanthier

Slant Magazine

Alec Guinness is one of classic cinema's truly genuine curiosities.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 14, 2009

Full Review

Geoff Andrew

Time Out

The picture is surprisingly moving, delicately handled and full of lovely vignettes.

Feb 9, 2006

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

Simple and modest in structure but delightfully rich in character.

Rated: 3.5/5

Jan 28, 2006

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Slight and mildly amusing dark comedy of rebirth and regret.

Rated: B-

Oct 26, 2010

Full Review

Chris Cabin

Filmcritic.com

the film would not register above passable if not for its central figure

Rated: 3/5

Jun 20, 2009

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Aug 5, 2005

Full Review

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isla s

I found this a bit bland and not as amusing as I'd hoped. I was interested to see the original film, after having seen the remake with Queen Latifah some 10+ years ago - suffice to say, its certainly rather different but then I suppose thats a given!. I don't think I've seen many (any?) films with Alex Guinness in before, so that was interesting. I also recognised Sid James who plays Joe Clarence. It wasn't an uninteresting film but the plot pace was a little slow for my taste. There were some amusing moments, whereby characters get the wrong end of the stick and make incorrect conclusions based on the somewhat bizarre traveling habits and behaviour of the main character. I found one of the hotel employees, a very quietly spoken lady, to be quite nice and soemwhat memorable. I thought it was interesting to see how the main character attempted to open up, to deal with the situation he found himself in. As an old fashioned character drama its not bad and there is a certain charm to it, although it isn't one of the particularly memorable older British films I've seen.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Superb cast painting a lovely story. Sit back & enjoy the cameos. Very British, very moving & of its time. Wonderful.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

martin a

Wow-what a film! Stunning well-acted and a fantastic story, shop in Torquay at the Rosetor Hotel When Torquay was actually a nice place. Sadly the Hotel was demolished for some carbuncle, but the film follows a man who is told he is going to die of a rare disease and quits his job and moves into a posh hotel in Torquay believing he will die in a few weeks. The hotel is full of characters and one by one they all end up liking him, And he gets offered jobs, wins money, and falls in love knowing it will all end before he can take anything. The twist, in the end, is tearjerking. A wonderful film, they will never make them like this again

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Has an interesting mix of drama with a set of mildly amusing characters, although this is not a comedy. It's a pretty good character study.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

charming British comedy where a salesman is told he is to die soon spends his savings on an expensive holiday and starts to live his life to the max

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/10/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Great story, excellent cast, the film sticks with you--Guinness Pure Genius!!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/22/23

Full Review

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Henry Cass

Director

Alec Guinness

George Bird

Beatrice Campbell

Sheila Rockingham

Kay Walsh

Mrs. Poole

Bernard Lee

Inspector Wilton

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Chalfont

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Critical Consensus: A Regal "Holiday," A Well-Trodden "Road," A Tepid "Tristan"

Trailer Bulletin: Last Holiday

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Synopsis

When ordinary middle-class salesman George Bird (Alec Guinness) is diagnosed with a rare and fatal illness, he decides to spend his few remaining days in luxury. Cashing in his savings, he buys a fancy new wardrobe and poses as a wealthy businessman at a posh seaside resort. Unexpectedly, the dying man's luck begins to change during his holiday, from winning at gambling to establishing friendships with his fellow guests, most notably Sheila Rockingham (Beatrice Campbell).

Director: Henry Cass
Screenwriter: J.B. Priestley
Production Co: Warner Bros., Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English (United Kingdom)
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 9, 2014
Runtime: 1h 29m