Free For All (1949)
The discovery of a way of turning petrol into water makes a fortune and romance for the young inventor.
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Really Surprised!
I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.
One of my favorite British movies of the 1950s is "The Man in the White Suit" with Alec Guinness. However, two years earlier a similar sort of plot was explored in the American film "Free For All"...though it was made with far less subtlety and finesse.The film begins with Christopher Parker (Bob Cummings) at the US Patent Office getting information about obtaining a patent for his latest invention...pills that turn water into gasoline! Naturally folks are skeptical but when the oil industry learns about the invention, they spring into action. They claim to be interested in Chris and his invention, but they will do just about anything to stop this invention from seeing the light of day.The film handles this story with no subtlety at all and often goes for goofy laughs. This doesn't make it a bad film...but it does make it slight and silly whereas "The Man in the White Suit" was insightful and clever. Worth seeing.