Left Right and Centre Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.0

Left Right and Centre Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 28, 2024

Sidney Gilliat's "Left Right and Centre: (1959) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhosue Films. The supplemental features on the release include new program with critic Josephine Botting; new audio commentary by critic Michael Brooke; archival documentary and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

Perhaps the most interesting revelation that emerges from Sidney Gilliat’s film Left Right and Centre is that in the late 1950s, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party were competing for the same voters that could put them in power, which were working-class voters occupying the middle of the political spectrum. However, this can be an interesting revelation only to folks who are allergic to British politics and as a result have minimal understanding of how the interests of the two major parties have evolved since the end of WWII. To the rest, Left Right and Centre will be just another old film satirizing two parties that have not been around for many decades.

Ian Carmichael is Robert Wilcot, a TV star chosen to represent the Conservative Party in a local election by his uncle, Lord Wilcot (Alastair Sim), a bright senior resident looking to add plenty to his dwindling bank account. Wilcot does not have a proper grasp of the Conservative Party’s platform or any experience campaigning, but Lord Wilcot is not concerned. In fact, Lord Wilcot could not care less if he wins or loses the election, so long as he generates enough excitement so that many voters spend their cash at his property.

Shortly after boarding a train to meet his base, Wilcot connects with Stella Stoker (Patricia Bredin), a beautiful young lady, who happens to be his Socialist opponent. Because both assume that the person in front of them is a random stranger, they have a wonderful conversation and realize that their thoughts on a range of issues are practically identical. Several hours later, at the end of their trip, while being greeted by local party leaders, Wilcot and Stoker are shocked to discover that they have accidentally engaged the enemy.

In the days ahead, fate manufactures various excuses to force Wilcot and Stoker to repeatedly bump into each other, on and off the campaign trail, and the more time the two spend together, the more they begin to fall in love. Then on election night, while the votes are counted and recounted, the two ditch politics in the name of love.

The satire, which is supposed to be the main attraction, is quite weak. It relies on incredibly predictable material that only occasionally produces witty remarks, which is why the romantic melodrama quickly takes over and attempts to create excitement. However, everything that happens between Wilcot and Stoker is entirely predictable, too. Wilcot is a typical clueless elitist who recites statements he does not understand, while Stoker is the fully awake political activist perfectly in synch with her base. One is very much an opportunist, while the other is a true believer. Since in romance opposites attract, the only thing that remains unclear is whether the two will surrender to Cupid before or after the winner is declared.

The most disappointing development, however, is that Sim’s time in front of Gilliat’s camera is kept to an absolute minimum. Sim is predictably excellent, but there is just not enough material for him to work with, which is difficult to see as anything else but an unforgivable flaw. Sim should have been the catalyst for the satire, especially if the intent was to target the kabuki theater the two parties always stage for their gullible bases.

But viewing Left Right and Centre in the current socio-political environment could be a surprisingly intriguing experience because the versions of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party that emerge in it are essentially unrecognizable. Because the current versions of the two parties are so drastically different, a massive political realignment, driven by the working class and a new party representing it, is underway.

Left Right and Centre Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.66:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Left Right and Centre arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Indicator/Powerhouse Films.

It is very easy to tell that Left Right and Centre has been remastered because it looks great on Blu-ray. There are a few minor density fluctuations, but they are inherited, not a byproduct of compromising digital work. Unsurprisingly, delineation, clarity, and depth are very, very pleasing. Fluidity is good, too. The grayscale is very convincing and stable. All blacks look rich but not boosted, while grays and whites are wonderfully balanced. Image stability is excellent. I did not see any traces of compromising adjustments affecting grain exposure. The surface of the visuals is free of distracting age-related anomalies. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Left Right and Centre Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

Even if the volume is raised quite a bit, the upper register does not reveal any signs of aging. It is very stable. All exchanges are clear and easy to follow. Dynamic intensity is modest, but this is to be expected from a film from the late 1950s that does not have any action material or a big orchestral score.

Left Right and Centre Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Josephine Botting: Screening the Candidates - in this new program, critic Josephine Botting discusses the conception and style of Left Right and Centre, as well as its placement in Sidney Gilliat's body of work. In English, not subtitled. (21 min).

• The BEHP Interview with John Box - in this archival audio interview, art director John Box discusses his life and career with critic Rodney Giesler. The interview was conducted on December 9, 1999. In English, not subtitled. (93 min).

• Commentary - this new audio commentary was recorded by critic Michael Brooke.

• Image Gallery - presented here is a gallery of original promotional material for Left Right and Centre.

• Election in Britain (1960) - this archival documentary takes a closer look at the political system in the United Kingdom. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles. (18 min).

• Booklet - a limited edition exclusive 44-page booklet with a new essay by Matthew Bailey and Melanie Williams, a look at the Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat filmmaking partnership, an overview of contemporary critical reviews, new writing on Election in Britain, and techncial credits.

Left Right and Centre Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Mixing politics and romance is not a revolutionary concept for a film. However, the mixing has to be done by a talented writer, and great actors must be brought in to legitimate the film with the quality of their work. Left Right and Centre has the latter, but not the former. It is worth seeing because it introduces archaic versions of the Conservative Party and the Labour Party that can be quite surprising in the current socio-political environment. But with Ian Carmichael and Alastair Sim touted as its big stars, it is difficult not to describe it as a project that does not live up to its potential. RECOMMENDED only to the fans.