"The Comforters," by Muriel Spark

Novel, 1957

A novel it's difficult to describe without making it sound much better than it actually is. This is a tale of polite post-war society getting snagged up in witchcraft, insanity, affairs, diamond smuggling and all sorts besides. The trouble is that addressing all these themes and incidents with a cast of what feels like dozens of characters is tricky, especially when there's a huge proportion of the writing in dialogue. Some great writing, but overall, things just don't seem to have any real coherence. Some great moments, but the sum is difficult to be wholly favourable towards.

"The Smallest Show on Earth", directed Basil Dearden

Movie, 1957

Cost British comedy in the Ealing mould about the little guy prevailing over the big American corporate, this time in the guise of a battle between two cinemas in a town in southern England. Some good scenes and nice settings, yes, although this is formulaic stuff, even if some of the supporting players act up a storm. A nice familiar whiff or moral ambiguity keeps things fairly interesting, though in fairness, and although charming, not a film to hold out for and make a real point of seeing. Nice entertainment, all the same.