Last Holiday

A bitter-sweet little film written by JB Priestley. Informed that he has no more than a few weeks to live, a hard-working nonentity (Guinness) collects his savings, checks into a posh hotel, and resolves to go out like a gentleman. Here his life changes beyond all recognition: he finds love and happiness, and has an equally beneficent effect on those around him. It's a charming notion, Utopia on the never-never; and while the final twist is a bit tricky, the picture is surprisingly moving, delicately handled and full of lovely vignettes. Unlikely as it may seem, this was the inspiration for Aki Kaurismäki's I Hired a Contract Killer.