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Overly cute little comedy from across the pond about a grifter selling aBritish title to several people simultaneously. Clive is a rogue cad scamartist and bona... » 

Overly cute little comedy from across the pond about a grifter selling aBritish title to several people simultaneously. Clive is a rogue cad scamartist and bona fide Lord of the British realm. Knowing a good thing when hesaw it he not only bought his own title at auction but picked up an extra oneLord of Hexcombe manor and decided to peddle it to unsuspecting Americans. Hisgirl Friday in this endeavor is Jane Strachey whom Clive sends over to Englandto look over the grounds he believes theyll inherit once one of them thatis wins the Lordship at auction. Among those tromping through the isolatedcountryside with Strachey are Lincoln Deane clueless owner of a Californiavineyard gangster Frankie di Stefano the Nibbets a doofusy couple and Mr.Delarme a preacher of the Old Testament variety. The catch is that Clive isgoing to sell the Lordship and sell it to several people at once then duckout of sight to leave Strachey holding the bag. Clive works the strings fromback in Americawhere hes not so secretly carrying on with Lincoln Deanesstatusclimbing wifetrusting that Strachey will take care of everything. Andits Strachey who proves to be the novels fatal flaw. James a cult Britishcrime author has created in her a character whos supposedly a brainy beautyable to think on her feet and maneuver well in all sorts of strange situations.But he chains her to Clive a charmless goon whos absent for a good deal ofthe time and never once appears to be the kind of man who could string a womanlike this along. The rest is not only equally implausible but just plain dull.With a setup rich for comic exaggeration almost none of it is exploited. Limpand soggy material from an author less likely to be as successful in America asat home. Kirkus Reviews «