the audience applauded

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Copyright 1961 by Independent Artists. Not copyrighted in the U.S.A. New York opening at the Plaza: 30 July 1962. U.S. release through Union Film Distributors: 30 July 1962. U.K. release through Rank Film Distributors: 21 May 1961. Australian release through British Empire Films: November 1961. 8,820. 98 minutes. (Available on an incorrectly framed Network DVD). U.S. release title: A COMING-OUT PARTY.SYNOPSIS: In 1942, aeronautical scientist Sir Ernest Pease is flown over enemy Germany to observe at first-hand the results of one of his radar experiments. When his plane is hit by anti-aircraft fire and he is forced to parachute to earth, he is captured and sent to a P.O.W. camp. Because of his aloof and taciturn nature, his fellow prisoners suspect him of being a spy. However, when word arrives from the War Office that he is a very important person, all hands join in arranging an escape. Following several unsuccessful attempts, Pease decides to take over. VIEWER'S GUIDE: Borderline (lots of bombast, anti-German sentiments, implied cruelty).COMMENT: Who else is better qualified to enact a "Very Important Person" than James Robertson Justice? Even the name sounds important. Mr. Justice is a master of the cutting remark, the caustic put-down. Acidic bombast issues as smoothly from his lips as invective from the most well-versed sergeant-major. And fortunately for us, Leslie Phillips and company are just the sort of scallop- brained officer talents to try the great man's patience.Of course no amount of bombast, no matter how entertainingly well- honed, will serve as adequate entertainment in a feature film if the surrounding story and characters are not likewise sharply drawn and delineated. Fortunately that is not only the case here, but an extra jester has been added to the pot. Two extra jesters in fact – both in the person of that superb mimic, Stanley Baxter. What is more, Baxter is not merely a bonus on the sidelines, but an integral part of the movie's cleverly plotted escape. As for the actual support characters, they are as entertaining a medley of reliable British types, led by Eric Sykes and Richard Wattis, as any Empire could boast. Annakin's direction is surprisingly skillful and assured. And as the film has been realized on a fair-sized budget, other credits are likewise first-class.OTHER VIEWS: It's not only Justice's film. The principal acting credit for its success must be equally shared with Stanley Baxter. As for the script credit, it does no disservice to the long, noble tradition of British POW movies, mostly because it re-uses so many of the standard ruses, devices, props and even characters.Fortunately there's still more than a bit of life left in the old genre. Spirited playing certainly helps. — J.H.R. in Photoplayer.

Very Important Person combines elements of the Carry On films, The Great Escape and Hogan's Heroes to produce a lighthearted low budget British Comedy that is surprisingly effective. Many of the stalwarts from this era are here with John Le Mesurier, Stanley Baxter, Eric Sykes in supporting roles. I wouldn't have been at all surprised to see Sid James turning up somewhere.James Roberson Justice is excellent in his role as the cantankerous Very Important Person. There are lots of stiff upper lips and "tickety boos" from the British and the German officers are typically cast as foolish buffoons. This must have all been an inspiration for Hogan's Heroes but a very long way from the reality of prisoner of war camps.Overall, VIP is a fine example of British Comedy from the 60s and is well worth a look.

Avoid the book of the same name clumsily written by John Foley if you ever see it, based on the film's screenplay by Jack Davies. The main thing here is that the film was a showcase for the mammoth personality of James Robertson Justice, it would be virtually nothing with someone else in his role of frosty crusty portly professor. The book is nothing without him; get the DVD.In WW2 acidic high-up professor (JRJ) has to get into Nazi-occupied Europe to try out some scientific experiment but gets captured and sent to a POW camp in Germany to his disgust. Then he has to get out again with the help of his room-mates who eventually discover just how important he is – to Winnie in London at least. A lot of old British actors were paraded here, but particularly manic Stanley Baxter (x2), lascivious Leslie Phillips and poncey Jeremy Lloyd, all making for a comfortable familiar ride. JRJ surpassed himself, evincing stoical but disdainful contempt for everyone British or German and his surroundings, barking orders to all lesser mortals and generally displaying an organisational brainpower not usually found this side of Mount Olympus. Favourite bits: Phillips immortal impatient leg-crossed line when JRJ as a Red Cross Inspector is imperturbably wasting time in front of the German guards; and almost everything JRJ uttered during the film.All in all, a typical British comedy from the time but turned into something special by a tour-de-force performance, and one I've seen umpteen times since the late '60's. What an original the man was – to me indeed, a Very Important Person.

VERY IMPORTANT PERSON (USA: Coming-Out Party) Aspect ratio: 1.66:1Sound format: Mono(Black and white)Internees at a German POW camp plot the escape of a high-ranking British scientist (James Robertson Justice) who has fallen into enemy hands.Entertaining mixture of comedy and drama, directed with cut-throat efficiency by Ken Annakin (later responsible for blockbusters like BATTLE OF THE BULGE and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG), and headlined by some of the most popular names in contemporary British cinema, including Leslie Phillips and Jeremy Lloyd as upper-class comic relief, and Stanley Baxter playing dual roles as a temperamental Scottish prisoner and an unpleasant Nazi officer (when the German calls him a 'British swine', Baxter retorts with haughty pride: "SCOTTISH swine!"). Robertson is at his most gruff and lovable here, initially appalled by the company he's forced to keep in the POW camp, then quietly appreciative of the lengths these 'idiots' will go to secure his safety. The tone is pretty low-key, which means the film isn't always as funny or as suspenseful as it could have been, but it's a hugely enjoyable treat nonetheless. Eric Sykes, Richard Wattis and John Le Mesurier are featured in supporting roles.