'No one who is seriously interested in British Film Music can afford to pass up this release.' - Music from the Movies

'As the CD notes by Mervyn Cooke aptly put it, this music represents ‘a lost age of innocently witty film writing’. As ever Chandos has done this repertoire proud with a luminous and full-bodied recording.' - Gramophone

‘If the true art of composing for the cinema is to be seen and heard, then Richard Rodney Bennett is a master of the medium’.'
- International Record Review

''Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic tackle all this material with great relish, while the Chandos sound-engineers have a field-day. Altogether a terrific tribute - and great fun too!''
- Gramophone

'Alan Rawsthornes music is British film music of the 1940s and 1950s at its best. Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic have managed to capture the nobility and delicacy of the composers music as well as the enthusiasm of the developing British film industry. This is an excellent album in an excellent series and is highly recommended.' - Music from the Movies

'Rumon Gamba secures exemplary results from his assembled forces…and the recording is spectacularly truthful to match. I’m already impatiently awaiting Volume 2.' - Gramophone

''Without question, performance and sonics are up to the high standards set by the first volume, while the booklet is informative and helpful... Rumon Gamba, as with all of his exemplary compilations of British film music, really makes this grand entertainment come alive.''
- American Record Guide

'‘All this music is superbly played by Hickox and the LSO… and the recording is as lavish as anyone could wish – very much in the Chandos demonstration bracket.’' - The Penguin Complete Guide

'You can’t fault the performances, which are fiercely conducted by Rumon Gamba, and played with great finesse by the BBC Concert Orchestra. Vocalist Mary Carewe, meanwhile, is glorious.'
- The Guardian

'Gamba gets his usual dazzling and dynamic playing from the BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Chandos sonics have never sounded more all-embracing. An outstanding addition to the distinguished Chandos film music series. Let’s hope a second volume is gestating, as well as a possible survey of Addison’s concert work.' - Fanfare (USA)