It's the off-season at the lonely Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth, and only the long-term tenants are still in residence. Life is stirred up, however, when the beautiful Ann Shankland arrives to see her alcoholic ex-husband, John Malcolm, who is secretly engaged to Pat Cooper, the woman who runs the hotel. Meanwhile, snobbish Mrs Railton-Bell discovers that the kindly if rather doddering Major Pollock, played by David Niven, who won an Oscar for his performance, a retired officer who likes to find out more...

This masterpiece by Preston Sturges is perhaps the finest movie-about-a-movie ever made. Hollywood director John Sullivan, tired of churning out lightweight comedies, decides to make "O, Brother, Where Art Thou?" - a serious, socially responsible film about human suffering. After his producers point out that he knows nothing of hardship, Joel hits the road as a hobo. While on his travels the director finds the lovely Veronica Lake, and more trouble than he ever imagined. Some truly inspired set find out more...