The Love Lottery

This 1954 Ealing comedy is pleasant enough, but does stand out for a few distinctive features.

The international settings around Lake Como are splendid, especially since we're fortunate, in that they are presented in colour.

David Niven gives a lively, energetic, physical performance, even though (somewhat incongruously) he is playing a burnt out, but very popular matinee idol.

The rather bland script is given extra life when one considers, the main storyline involving a competition to raffle Niven's character to be married off, anticipates popular (I seriously don't know why.), contemporary reality TV shows such as Married at First Sight, The Farmer Wants a Wife and The Bachelor.

Lastly, the concluding scene, filmed overlooking the Thames River, includes one of the great actors of the 40's and 50's in a surprising wordless cameo. It's a corker and does finish the movie on the right note.