Arthur's Hallowed Ground

Arthur has been groundskeeper at a local cricket club since he was a lad. Now over retirement age, his proprietorial interest in the groud has rather overpowered many other considerations, including his marriage and, indeed, the reason the ground exists in the first place. When he starts training a youngster, disagreements with the committee reach crisis point. This rather slight film was directed by first-time director, but legenday cinematographer Freddie Young at tye age of 80, and it is a quiet delight. Jimmy Jewel plays the curmudgeonly Arthur with great inner warmth as the small story makes its gentle way through a series of relatively minor events, all of which are major to Arthur. It is all very believable, and equally likeable.

Arthur's Hallowed Ground is as straight forward as its no – nonsense protagonist. For forty five years Arthur has been the groundsman to the local cricket ground, despite this being an impressive feat Arthur is on the wrong end of some of the cricket ground's committee. So begins the conflict between them regarding how the cricket ground should be kept. This may sound like an unsatisfying storyline but Arthur's Hallowed Ground redeems itself though its strength in characterisation. Particularly in the interactions between Arthur and antagonistic committee member Len, respectively symbolising the clash between sincerity and greed. Both being headstrong characters, its brilliant to witness their exchange of words with such brutal honestly heightening the drama, kudos to Jimmy Jewel and Michael Elphick for their passionate performances. Its a great shame they share little screen time together. Though the downside of Arthur's characterisation is the extent of his behaviour, at times it was uncalled for. Spending most of his time berating assistant Henry and undermining him felt unjustified only serving to please Arthur's ego, making me somewhat wonder why should we be on his side? Yet in the sections with Arthur and Henry, Arthur's sincerity and the wisdom of his ways does prevail. He the experienced elder, Henry the clueless youngster who gradually improves under Arthur's guidance in a series of comical and heart - felt moments making it easier to gloss over Arthur's faults. Same goes for Arthur's light hearted banter with his wife Betty, whose stern yet kind words usually sets Arthur on the right path. A sense of closeness is formed during Arthur's scenes with Henry and Betty which is the essence of the film's enchantment seeing the storyline though, without this Arthur's Hallowed Ground would be dryly dull. What Arthur's Hallowed Ground lacks within a completely fulfilling storyline it makes up with sincerity and characters whose genuine qualities creates pleasant moments.

Charming debut from octogenarian director Freddy Young. The hallowed ground in question is a cricket pitch, of which Arthur is the groundsman The directing debut from 80-year-old Freddy Young (David Lean's triple Oscar Winning photographer), comes from the same Puttnam produced TV series, First Love, as P'Tang Yang Kipperbang. For 45 years, groundsman Arthur (Jimmy Jewell) has toiled to create the perfect cricket pitch. He's fiercely protective of his pride and joy to the extent that the hallowed turf's appearance is more important to him than its purpose, and his obduracy is turning the school authorities against him. New assistant, Henry (Blackwood), struggles to establish a relationship with his intimidating boss, but slowly he wears away at Arthur's leathery surface to reveal the old man's tender affections.

Thoroughly enjoyed this movie, from a bygone era. It covers the relationship between an elderly grounds an and his ground (and his young new apprentice). All rather harmless and enjoyable.