Very Important Person (1961)

Very Important Person (retitled A Coming Out Party in the United States) is a 1961 British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin and written by Jack Davies and Henry Blyth.

The film contains performances from several well-known British comedy and character actors, including James Robertson Justice, Stanley Baxter as both a dour Scottish prisoner and the camp Kommandant, Eric Sykes as a sports fanatic, John Le Mesurier as the Escape officer, Leslie Phillips and Richard Wattis as the emotional Entertainments officers, desperately trying to coax quality performances out of would-be entertainers.

The film had its World Premiere on April 20th 1961 at the Leicester Square Theatre in London's West End and went on General Release in late May on Rank's second string National circuit.

Synopsis

Sir Ernest Pease (James Robertson Justice) is a brilliant but acerbic scientist working on aircraft research during World War II. He needs to take a trip on a bomber to observe the results of his work. At first the plan is to fly in an RAF plane disguised as an RAF officer, but when he is told to shave off his beard he refuses and gets to go as a Royal Navy officer, as beards are allowed in the RN.

Actors