UK Release date: 8 February 1949
First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 9 December 1950
Genre: Drama
Country: UK
Running time: 95 minutes
Director: Anthony Pelissier
Cast: John Mills, Sally Ann Howes, Betty Ann Davies
Australian Distributor: GBDFD
Melbourne Premiere Venue: Hoyts’ Athenaeum for five weeks from 15 September 1950 supporting The Gay Lady.
Suburban Release Type: Independent North Melbourne Loco EX-2
Rankings
| Rank | ||
| EF Points | 18 | 338 |
| EF PPE | 2.00 | 262 |
| Metres Travelled | 111,794 | 330 |
| Average MT | 12,422 | 10 |
| Engagements | 9 | 332 |
| Slots | 11 | 333 |
| Weeks | 2 | 238 |
| Weeks as % of engagements | 22.22% | 145 |
| Saturdays | 5 | 303 |
| Sats as % of engagements | 55.56% | 73 |
| Tuesdays | 2 | 317 |
| Tues as % of engagements | 22.22% | 222 |
| First billed | 0 | 263 |
| Second billed | 9 | 196 |
| Feature only | 0 | 34* |
Suburban ratios
| Engagements weeks 1-10 | 5 |
| Ratio | 55.56% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -9.75% |
| Eng weeks 11-26 | 2 |
| Ratio | 22.22% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 1.81% |
| Eng weeks 27-52 | 2 |
| Ratio | 22.22% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 7.93% |
| Hoyts eng | 3 |
| Ratio | 33.33% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 10.88% |
| Independent eng | 2 |
| Ratio | 22.22% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -12.47% |
| Suburban eng | 4 |
| Ratio | 44.44% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 1.58% |
Notes: This labour of love for star John Mills was a flawed but intriguing adaptation of an H.G. Wells story that died a death in the UK and was given short shrift by its Australian distributor. Initially granted some support roles on the Suburban and Union runs, Hoyts eventually took in back to plug a few holes. Abysmal figures across the board, although it did crack top ten for average engagement meterage (due to its number of Suburban hikes).
The History of Mr. Polly engagements
| SUBURB | VENUE | CHAIN | DATE | W | D | B | CO-FEATURE |
| North Melbourne | Loco | Independent | 9/12/1950 | 1 | T | 2 | The Gay Lady |
| Box Hill | Rialto | Suburban | 23/12/1950 | 3 | S | 2 | Two Texas Knights |
| Camberwell | Rivoli | Suburban | 23/12/1950 | 3 | W | 2 | Portrait From Life |
| Oakleigh | Paramount | Independent | 20/01/1951 | 7 | W | 2 | Look for the Silver Lining |
| Balwyn | Balwyn | Suburban | 10/02/1951 | 10 | T | 2 | Great Expectations |
| Caulfield | Crystal Palace | Suburban | 24/02/1951 | 12 | S | 2 | The Cure for Love |
| Malvern | New | Hoyts | 24/02/1951 | 12 | S | 2 | The Cure for Love |
| Brighton | Centre | Hoyts | 14/07/1951 | 32 | S | 2 | City Lights |
| South Yarra | Regent | Hoyts | 8/09/1951 | 40 | S | 2 | The Mudlark |
The 1950 Project 