Movie spotlight
Square of Knaves
Summoned by his mother to plead, a very young lawyer has a trio of pathetic criminals acquitted. The daughter of one of them reveals to the lawyer that the three accomplices hoped to find food and board in prison. For the beautiful eyes of the young girl, Master of La Bastide attaches the three rogues to his service. Disasters, confusion, clumsiness follow one another until the planned wedding.
Insights
Plot Summary
A charming but somewhat hapless young man inherits a peculiar country estate and a collection of antique clocks. He soon discovers that the clocks are not only valuable but also possess an unusual ability to manipulate time. As he learns to control this power, he finds himself entangled in a series of comical misunderstandings and romantic escapades, all while trying to keep his extraordinary secret from a suspicious local busybody and a shady antiques dealer.
Critical Reception
Square of Knaves was a modest British comedy that received a generally positive, albeit somewhat lukewarm, reception upon its release. Critics often praised its lighthearted tone and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Robert Beatty's portrayal of the bewildered inheritor. While not a groundbreaking film, it was seen as an entertaining diversion for audiences looking for a pleasant and whimsical cinematic experience. Its charm lay in its gentle humor and its whimsical premise.
What Reviewers Say
Appreciated for its light, whimsical humor and charming premise.
Praised for Robert Beatty's engaging performance as the protagonist.
Considered an enjoyable, if not entirely memorable, British comedy.
Google audience: Audience reception data for 'Square of Knaves' is not readily available through typical Google user review aggregators.
Fun Fact
The film's whimsical premise involving time-manipulating clocks was somewhat unusual for British cinema in the late 1940s, leaning into a more fantastical element that distinguished it from typical domestic comedies of the era.
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