At the outbreak of WWII the British realise they can't prevent the invasion of the Channel Islands. However, someone realises that a prize cow is on the islands and the Nazis mustn't get hold of her. This is the intrepid story of the cow-napping from under the noses of the Nazis.
David Niven Glynis Johns George Coulouris Barry Jones Kenneth More Noel Purcell Bernard Lee Jeremy Spenser Patric Doonan Martin Boddey John Horsley George Benson Richard Wattis David Horne Geoffrey Sumner Raymond Young Richard Marner Herbert C. Walton Stanley Rose John Stratton Peter Martyn Neil Wilson Geoffrey Denton Michael Ward Pat Nye Marianne Stone Betty Cooper Noel Johnson Jeanne Pali Show All…
UK
UK
David Niven & Glynis Johns elevate a fairly weak Nazi story. They try to do the light approach to it, and it was a little hard to take. Still, the two are charming, so it wasn't like they themselves was going to fail doing so.
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Glynis Johns makes this hard to believe film believable
Don't expect lots of comedy for this comedy, but it is on the enjoyable side (sort of how a lassie or benji film could be). This film, does have a darker side, as it has some Nazi German's being set during WW2 on a Channel island just occupied by the Germans.
David Niven is tasked to sneak onto the island for a snatch and grab operation and gets the character played by Gylnis Johns to help him (as this character had grown up on the island). Kenneth More plays, of all roles, a painter living on this island. Richard Marner (from 'Allo 'Allo! fame) is listed as playing a small role herein, too, but I don't recall seeing him in it.
6/10
Ralph Thomas’s war comedy drama in which a British Major is tasked with rescuing a pedigree cow from a German-occupied Channel Island. Starring David Niven and Glynis Johns.
Appointment with Venus is adapted from the novel of the same name by Jerrard Tickell, which, rather amazingly, was published in the year this movie came out! Re-titled ‘Island Rescue’ in the United States, the final product is not outstanding, but certainly enjoyable.
The movie sees David Niven give a good performance in his role as Morland, the major who is given the assignment of saving the island called Venus, while Glynis Johns is decent as Nicola, the volunteer helping out with the War Office, keeping Morland company.
Elsewhere, there are respectable…
It's usually forgotten that Ralph Thomas was a prolific filmmaker in comedy outside of the Carry On series and made a number of really enjoyable films away from it.
Appointment with Venus is very far removed from the series that he's closely associated with, a very gentle wartime comedy about a group of British officers tasked with removing a prize cow from a Nazi occupied Channel Island. No, really. They make an effort to explain why this cow is so prized (she's also about to give birth, complicating things further) but not much of one.
It's well aware of how silly the whole idea is and maybe it's surprising that the film isn't sillier and more of a farce. But its level of humour actually works rather well and makes for a relaxing and fun watch, complete with a fine cast in which David Niven especially seems to be enjoying himself. A nice time.
I love a movie about rescuing a cow from Nazis!
Watched in memory of Glynis Johns, who was wonderful. David Niven was also great, per usual.
Comedy/ drama that isn't particularly comic or dramatic, in fact for a film about the Nazi occupation (of the channel Islands) it's remarkably gentle. However, as it has to do with bringing a prize pedigree cow back to England, it is rather whimsical and quirky. It is also highly likeable, with charmingly understated performances from David Niven and the ever delectable Glynis Johns.
There's nothing much there, there's just the people and their lives and the wind and the sea.
Gently amusing – David Niven and Glynis Johns try to rescue a cow from the Nazis in the Channel Islands. Because its a Betty Box/Ralph Thomas film, the supporting cast is largely made up of actors from the 'Doctor' films.
It's weird that this was made in '51, it feels like the sort of thing that would be put out during WWII as a mild mannered propaganda/spirit-lifting effort.
Avuncular and tame Sunday afternoon fare about a commando raid on a Nazi occupied Channel Island to rescue a famous cow before its shipped to Berlin.
It keeps things simple, eschewing violence in favour of light hearted David Niven quips, in a comedy which never threatens to be more than gently amusing.
David Niven is tasked with a secret mission in the occupied Channel Islands in WW2. His mission is to rescue a prize cow. No! I'm serious that's the plot for this British comedy drama from the 1950's. Don't despair though it's a whimsical amusing story that although it sounds a bit far fetched actually works. Verdict....entertaining and always enjoyable to see David Niven in an offbeat comedy that's well worth catching.
The fictional Channel Island of Armorel is occupied by German forces during WWII. The British military realize that a very valuable cow has been left on the island, and they send an expedition, lead by David Niven, to retrieve the cow. Former island resident Glynis Johns is recruited to help Niven with intel, and he decides to bring her along. Naturally, the mission does not go as smoothly as planned, and naturally, Niven and Johns fall for each other. An amiable little BRitish comedy that blends mild suspense, romance and gentle humour. George Coulouris plays the Nazi commander on the island and Kenneth More is an eccentric, pacifist artist who lives on the island.
