Just William's Luck

Did boys back then really run about all day, and night, in their school uniforms complete with caps, did they have no other clothes to wear? This film would have been popular with young audiences when it came out and it's still worth watching now. I've never read a "Just William" book or a "Billy Bunter" book but I have read a lot of "Jennings" books and they all feature posh kids usually ones who go to public schools, private schools that is for those not in the UK. They have adventures that boys of the same age would love to have and this is what made them popular at the time and now. The baddies always lose out at the end of course.

A cheaply made b&w post-War British family film, revolving around 11 yo William Brown, his long-suffering family and his Outlaw gang. Not a lot of money was wasted here, there's whole stretches of silent movie - especially noticeable at the climax where the frenetic action and tense music tries to disguise the fact no-one speaks for 10 minutes.

The Outlaws see themselves as Nites of the Square Table Wrighting Rongs - sort of quasi-Quixotic - and after an hour of adventures with local luminaries such as a glamorous film star and an erudite tramp get involved with a gang of fur smugglers. The book by Richmal Crompton followed later with Val Guest's screenplay being rewritten in places to tighten up on characterisation slippage. But basically William's World is intact and Garry Marsh for my money was the best Mr. Brown ever, even if a little bit too bald. William Graham as William himself was in character - pity about his gang of hair though!

A nice film for fans but not much here for people who've never read a William story.

I remember watching this film on BBC Television when I was sat next to my mother on Christmas Day in 1961. I was 10 years old. It still makes me laugh - 60 years later.

I have just watched it again on Talking Pictures this morning and, even now, it seemed even more appealing. It is definitely a film that would have appealed to young and old alike.

The first part of the film describes a World gone by - a World that no longer exists. The film described a World of family breakfasts and mealtimes - almost treated as a social event. It also shows idyllic country cottages, where even ordinary families had a maid or a housekeeper.

The scene where "The Outlaws" were haunting the house was absolutely hilarious. It had the whole family and our Christmas guests in stitches. The scenes were so well done that they surpassed that of many of the classic comedy films that were made around the same time.

Richmal Compton's character William was very close to my mother's heart as she had read every single one of the books. As a matter of fact, I still have most of them all in my attic. After seeing this film again, I think I will read them one more time.

Yes, it was a film set in an ideal World that probably never really existed. There was no post war austerity, no impoverished rationing, all the women dressed in nothing drabber that than what would have been seen in an expensive fashion catalogue, and two bob (10 pence/ 12 cents) was a lot of money. However, that aside, it was truly a delightful film.

Made at a time when films a d tv aimed at children wdfe becoming more popular.This film is set in an England that didn't exist.Obviously set post war none of the characters were affected by the truly miserable austerity period.Everything was rationed,even bread.The young actor playing William seems a bit out of place with his north east accent.Really not worth watching.

Low-budget screen adaptation of the popular Just William novels with forgotten child actor William Graham in the title role. Light on plot and laughs, although there are a few funny moments. Hugh Cross, who plays William's older brother here, would play his father in the 1970s TV series.