'The island of Children' is a bird sanctuary, which the local villagers are determined to preserve, despite the plans of the RAF to take it over as a regular firing range. It's all very civilised, with the usual rural stereotypes getting worked up to mount a campaign to stop the 'the boys in blue.' The film is not exactly a comedy, nor does is take a serious look at the issues of conservation. Indeed, it's more of a light hearted film, a sort of David and Goliath tale, where honest rural folk get to come together to mount what looks like an unequal and impossible task of keeping island as a sanctuary for our feathered friends. However, the film has a charm of its own, revealing a 1950's Norfolk village where life was conducted in the slow lane and where the focus of social meetings always took place in the village pub.
John Gregson does his best as the agreeable corporal, who can see both sides of the argument, while his love interest, Muriel Pavlov, does a competent job as the sensitive, sweet lass, who acts as the 'environmental voice' of the village as she waxes lyrical about about the implications of losing the bird sanctuary. Although the film features, Guy Middleton, who normally plays the suave and smooth moustached hero, is surprisingly down the pecking order, playing the adjutant, who gets little to say very little, while Kieron Moore is never really convincing as the squadron leader. However, as compensation, there is the delightful Harry Fowler, playing the usual 'salt of the earth' cheery type, and as such, adds a much needed bright and breezy presence to a film which at times becomes a bit tedious.
It's a film which harks back to a quieter decade without fast cars and mobile phones. As a bonus there are some great shots of Norfolk Broads and the surrounding villages. A gentle film for a quite afternoon with your feet up.
