Nothing to Lose Reviews

A witty comedy about an Irishman, Byrne, living in a small English village, who sets the rest of the community on their heels with his unwillingness to work. The town is about to be the recipient of a visit by the prime minister, who is making the trip just to reward the place for having almost total employment, the only holdout in this respect being the feisty Byrne. Though nearly all the villagers, especially the hypocritical members of the city council, harass the poor man, he gains a friend in a new clergyman. When the councilmen force the free-spirited indigent into the local poorhouse where he is the only occupant, the vicar discovers that he becomes entitled thereby to a grant of a substantial sum of money to be paid out of the village treasury. This results in the entire council being swept out of office; a new council is established with Byrne as its chairman. The townsfolk then find him employment appropriate to his capabilities as a mattress tester in a furniture factory. Fine performances by Abbey Theatre player Byrne and a great supporting cast. Another of the taut comedies made in Britain with government money under the auspices of Group 3, headed by famed documentarist Grierson.