P'tang, Yang Kipperbang [DVD]

Having seen the film on TV it bring back memories of those years growing up

When this film was released in 1982 I was coming of age too and I could really relate to the themes explored. Unexpressed love or very difficult to express love. We have all been there, well, I have. This movie encapsulates and captures these themes perfectly. Also the 1950s too. A very evocative, moving and quite beautiful film. The acting is just sensitive, nuanced, and understated, especially from the lead character of Alan Duckworth. Played superbly by John Albasiny. Amazing! A quite extraordinary film which is so often overlooked and unappreciated. Hardly surprising as it is rarely shown on television. I have no idea why. It's timeless themes could very easily be understood and appreciated by any thoughtful, intelligent and sensitive young person today. Mind you, they have shut a number of the Grammar Schools (which feature in this movie) down. Could explain why they might struggle to get a modern audience.

This is a rather curious film set in post-war middle England. The star of the film is John Arlott, or at least his voice, whatever the credits may say. Having heard David Putnam and Jon Agnew discuss the film at length on the Test Match Special lunchtime "A View from the Boundary" slot I admit that I ordered it immediately and was not disappointed. The Director gets the character if his adolescent star absolutely spot on and those of the girls in his class - torn between increasing interest in the opposite sex and revulsion for the interest - to a T. John Arlott's commentary on the way that the boy's intimate thoughts play out in his mind about what he is doing and the world around him is just brilliant.In the end the question is: does the boy get the girl? Of course he does, just not the way that he expects to and the ending is all the better for being unexpected.

Loved this film although it was a bit old fashioned

I had this on a hard drive which is now deleted so was good to find the DVD was available. I remembered it as being a sweet, gentle, comedy but it is much more than that. Alan Duckworth (John Albasiby) is a schoolboy in the throes of adolescence and pining after the lovely Ann played by Abigail Cruttenden. It's a story of love, loss, disappointment but it is also uplifting too. Alan is stumbling his way through the complexities of relationships and finding things not so simple as they are on the cricket pitch.It is set in the 1950s and evokes that period with honesty and precision. Alison Steadman is pitch perfect as the teacher searching for love but only finding disappointment and realizing that in post-war Britain that the pool of available men is sadly depleted by the conflict.If you like your films gentle, funny and thought provoking then this is for you.

This was a delightful film and equally enjoyed both by me and my 20-year-old son so it clearly crosses the generation divide very successfully.It is set in the 1950s and has a simple plot - Alan Duckworth fancies the lovely, blonde Ann who is in his class. She is not interested but that doesn't stop Alan day-dreaming about kissing her, and about cricket. He is given a part in the school play opposite Ann which calls for him to kiss her in the final scene. The drama teacher is played by Alison Steadman who, as always, is brilliant.Alan and his two classmates are a delight to watch and the humour is gentle but very funny and a satisfying, thought provokng ending.Reviewed by Mary Smith ( No More Mulberries )

I first saw this film at the age of 15. At that time the film was included in the CSE english sylabus and after watching it we had to write and essay. I hated the film because of that. But I decided to revisit the film at the age of 43 and found it funny and refreshing. I must admit that the cricket link was the draw for me. It's a very simple film, there isn't a great deal of story yet it is very watchable. For me even though the film is set in and era earlier than my childhood, it transported me back to days when life was easy, uncomplicated and fun. If you need a reprieve from your modern day hetic life, buy this film.

I watched this in my teens when first broadcast and I bought a copy out of nostalgic curiosity, with some vague memory that I'd enjoyed it. Sat down for a family Saturday evening with my teen girls and we all loved it. The historical content is educational, there is humour, true love and a loosly accurate portrayal of school life. It's nice to see a boy-meets-girl film that proves that the viewer can clearly understand what is happenening without the use of explicit language or nudity (for younger viewers). Of course for (older) cricket fans the film is enhanced by John Arlott's commentry which could have spoilt the story but it works well. One word of warning, your kids may return to school starting a new round of 'P'Tang Yang Kipperbangs' or 'Mananas"!