Alec Guinness stars in this 1950s black comedy about a salesman who learns he has months to live When told by his doctor of his terminal illness agricultural salesman George Bird (Guinness) decides to bow out with no regrets Cashing in all his savings he heads off to live in a fancy hotel & enjoy the good life while he still can discovering along the way that his life would probably have turned out far better had he been more adventurous After blowing his entire savings however George discovers that he has been wrongly diagnosed & that he can now look forward to a long & healthy life Synopsis Informed that he has only a short time to live salesman George Bird (Alec Guinness) decides to enjoy his last months to the fullest He withdraws all his savings from the bank & heads to a posh hotel Here he makes more contacts & opens more professional doors than he&s ever done before thanks to his willingness--at long last--to take risks He also spends every penny that he&s earned in life before discovering that the doctor&s diagnosis was in error & that he&s in no danger of imminent death whatsoever An ironic ending caps this fast-paced black comedy