Barnacle Bill is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Charles Frend and starring Alec Guinness, Harry Locke, and Frederick Piper. The film tells the story of Captain William Horatio Ambrose, a seasick sea captain who inherits an amusement pier from his late brother. Despite opposition from the local council and his well-to-do sister-in-law, he decides to take on the challenge of running the pier himself and transforming it into a profitable venture.
Ambrose, who is known to his friends as Barnacle Bill, is an eccentric character with very little business acumen. His initial efforts to revive the pier fail miserably, and he is forced to rely on his loyal crew of misfits and oddballs to help him turn the business around. Meanwhile, his sister-in-law and the local council are plotting to drive him out of business.
As the story unfolds, Barnacle Bill and his crew face a number of setbacks and challenges, including a rival amusement park, a group of disaffected customers, and a fire that threatens to destroy the entire pier. But with his trademark resilience and ingenuity, Barnacle Bill manages to overcome all obstacles and transform the pier into a success.
The film is a classic example of British comedy, with its quirky characters, dry wit, and slapstick humor. It was a commercial success in the UK and was later released in the US as All at Sea. Despite its age, it remains a much-loved classic of British cinema.