THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT is a very interesting British crime drama of 1957 that plays out as a morality tale. Tony Britton plays a sales rep for a toy company whose job sees him travelling abroad to bring in new business. Unfortunately, he decides to smuggle back a diamond watch through customs to give to his wife as a birthday present, but he's caught by the customs officer. This seemingly insignificant crime spells disaster and the story goes from there.
Although this is a slow-moving character drama I found it completely gripping. You really invest in Britton's character and the events that play out have a kind of documentary realism to them. The supporting cast is very fine and includes Sylvia Syms as Britton's wife and Geoffrey Keen as his sympathetic employer, plus more minor parts for Ian Bannen, Thorley Walters, and Harry Fowler. It's a downbeat tale for sure, but never depressing; it's too engaging for that.
Although this is a slow-moving character drama I found it completely gripping. You really invest in Britton's character and the events that play out have a kind of documentary realism to them. The supporting cast is very fine and includes Sylvia Syms as Britton's wife and Geoffrey Keen as his sympathetic employer, plus more minor parts for Ian Bannen, Thorley Walters, and Harry Fowler. It's a downbeat tale for sure, but never depressing; it's too engaging for that.