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Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

MALTA STORY is an oddly unengaging little war movie made by Britain and featuring an all-star cast. The setting is Malta, where the British are heroically fighting back against the superiority of the Luftwaffe and the Italian forces, despite being outgunned and surrounded. A little espionage features in the tale but mostly this is a typical gung-ho RAF-based slice of propaganda, lacking the interesting characters seen elsewhere in the genre, such as THE PURPLE PLAIN to give one example. Alec Guinness takes the lead role but seems oddly disinterested in the whole thing, but the sight of nearly a dozen British film regulars in cameo roles (I'm talking Victor Maddern, Sam Kydd, Gordon Jackson, Noel Willman, the list goes on) keeps you watching and the use of genuine wartime footage adds to the realism of the experience. But things get bogged down in old-fashioned romance and I never really cared as much as I should have about the cast.

I never thought I'd see Alec Guinness and cringe! His romantic scenes are unintentionally laugh out loud funny. With his spindly arms and legs sticking out of his tropical khakis, all he can talk to his gorgeous young beloved about is how she's to serve tea when he brings her off Malta to Cambridge after the war, how marvelous the ancient ruins are and how unimportant it would be if they all died. Alone in a dark romantic passage saying goodbye, possibly going off to his death: "Shan't be able to see you for awhile", "Take care, darling", "Bye, then", and he KISSES HER HAND before loping off! Catch me before I swoon! When it comes to the military scenes, the hotter it gets the more boring the Brits act, either ironic or depressed. Old war buddies saying goodbye to each other, possibly forever, act like they are catching a train for the weekend. My goodness, Reginald, what a bunch of lip upper stiffs! From Here To Eternity, this ain't. What a relief to have Jack Hawkins on hand. He's the only full blooded human in the thing. Even the great Flora Robson is hobbled by the stiffness of the style. It will make you appreciate what a genius David Lean was to take Hawkins and Guinness and use them in the cause of brilliant filmmaking.

Having just read "Tobruk" by Chester Wilmot, a journalist who spent time in the Tobruk siege and reported diligently about it, this piece informed me of another similar siege that I was unaware of. The use of archive footage is fascinating, mixed in with a simple story of love that feels lighter and without the moralising heaviness and embarrassing "post modern" pretensions of many modern day films ... especially war films. Very much a product of it's time ... they really don't make them like this anymore. Some of it feels like a War time moral raising film. I even thought it was made in the war until I found out the 1953 date. But memories were still strong in those days of course, so there is a flavour of a story burning to be told to the world before times move on.

Very much a weekend afternoon film now, almost 50 years after it was made, this film gives an accurate portrayal of the wartime events which led to Malta's being awarded the George Cross. The footage of the air and sea battles is fascinating, but the acting is sadly wooden.Jack Hawkins turns in his usual competent performance, but Alec Guiness is very bland. Flora Robson is an unlikely Maltese mother, symbolising the suffering of the island people. The other credited actresses, Muriel Pavlow and Renee Asherson, appear almost catatonic, and the two love affairs are utterly unconvincing.A lot of the entertainment lies in spotting well-known faces in their younger days! No surprise to see Victor Maddern and Sam Kydd (whinging, but getting the job done!), Gordon Jackson (uncredited), a very young Rosalie Crutchley and an (almost) unrecognisable Nigel Stock!Watch this to learn about Malta's wartime history, but choose another film if you want to see these famous names acting with some passion!