Pretty Good

Absolutely Fantastic

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

"The Bespoke Overcoat" (this is the more known version) is a British 35-minute live action short film from 1955, so this one is already over 60 years old. It is the story of one man who is freezing cold longing for the item mentioned int he title, but it is all too late and he dies. However, not even this can keep his ghost from returning and with the help of a friend still try to get the bespoke overcoat. As for the time common, it is a black-and-white sound film and this one was really successful with awards bodies as it took home the Oscar and also had a pretty good time at the BAFTAs that year. The cast may probably be especially known to British film buffs as I must admit I don't know any of the gentlemen in here. Sadly I must say I did not enjoy the watch too much. Perhaps at 20 minutes it could have been a really successful project, but at almost twice the runtime I felt that it had some lengths and eventually these also made a negative impact when it comes to the pretty emotional ending that is certainly the highlight of the entire thing. Don't get me wrong, this is by no means a failure, but I believe the awards attention may have been a bit too much. I am not sure if it is worth sitting through the first 32 minutes for the last 3. I would say no. That's why overall i cannot give a positive recommendation here. i suggest you watch something else unless you are really a huge fan of any the actors in here, who by the way were all a lot younger back then than they may appear to be.

An elderly clothing store worker asks his boss if he could have a new coat to replace his old battered worn-out garment. He is denied this one wish by his cold hearted boss and so asks his tailor friend if he could make him one instead. His friend agrees to make one for cost only but, sadly, the old man is soon thereafter fired from his job and quickly dies of pneumonia. He returns as a ghost to his friend and they steal a coat from the shop, one that he considered his right given his many years of loyal service.This short was directed by Jack Clayton, who would go on to helm important films such as The Innocents (1961), another film about ghosts although coming from an entirely different place. This small-scale movie actually went on to win an Oscar for best short film. It is very well executed with very good acting by all involved. It packs an emotional punch too, with its simple story about friendship and loyalty handled in a way that never goes for over sentimentalism and achieves its objectives by more subtle means. The moment when the old man disappears into the darkness is really a very sad moment indeed and it is done so simply yet so poignantly. A very good example of what can be achieved in the short film format.

Those who have written eloquently of their love for this picture may by now have found it.If they have not, they should know that it is available as a splendid extra on the BFI DVD of Jack Clayton's The Innocents. Worth going multi-region if not in Region-2!Both films look very good and The Bespoke Overcoat seems to have gained a few minutes since its original release: it does not begin with the deathbed scene described by a previous poster but with a pre-title sequence in a graveyard.I hope this is helpful.

I saw this film in 1960. I was 8 years old - and my much older sister had taken me along to see another film at the Glasgow Cosmo - the 'Art House' cinema of the time. I have no idea what the main film was - but this one was enchanting.No film has made such an impression on me - ever. It was 45 years ago - and I remember the words and scenes as if it were yesterday - despite only having seen it the one time.Spoiler*******When Morrie begins praying for Fender - it was only then I realised that Fender had been a ghost. It was so heart breaking - I couldn't stop weeping for days. My Mother was furious with my poor sister for 'upsetting' me by taking me to 'grownup' films.I have tried searching on the internet to see if a film copy (VHS or DVD ) is available. I found a copy of the play at a London bookstore - and amazingly - everything I remembered was as it was written.If anyone knows where I might find a copy - I would be most grateful.