was out for a duck in his final test in 1948. That production was directed by Royston Morley and starred Patrick Barr as Sam Palmer. As with almost all of Rattigan's plays, the theme of the relationship between father and son, and the tension between parental expectations and the son's driving force leading him in different directions, is explored. The play was filmed in 1953, directed by Anthony Asquith. Critical reception In The Spectator, Virginia Graham wrote, "Often witty, always undeviatingly amiable, this is a delightful film, a simple friendly film full of national jokes which, as no other country could possibly share them, give one the comfortable relaxed feeling of being at home and liking it there"; Sky Cinema wrote, "It's difficult to imagine that this little film packed London's huge Odeon, Leicester Square, in its day, but it did"; Leonard Maltin called it a "Droll, minor comedy"; The New York Times wrote, "Perhaps the cognoscenti will not call "The Final Test" cricket, but it definitely adds up to fun"; and more recently, The Guardian called it "Britain's only significant cricket picture." The film ran for six months in New York and became one of Harold Wilson's favorite movies. Media releases The film was released on Region 2 DVD on 6 August 2007. References External links 1953 films 1950s sports comedy-drama films British sports comedy-drama films Cricket films Films directed by Anthony Asquith Films scored by Benjamin Frankel Films shot at Pinewood Studios Films with screenplays by Terence Rattigan Films set in London 1953 comedy films 1953 drama films British black-and-white films 1950s English-language films 1950s British films