The History of Mr. Polly is a film made in 1949, based on the 1910 comic novel The History of Mr. Polly by H.G. Wells. It was directed by Anthony Pelissier, who is also credited with the script.

The narrative follows the book in most respects, but condenses the early part of the story when Polly is still working in a drapers shop.

The cast was:

• John Mills as Alfred Polly
• Betty Ann Davies as Miriam Larkins
• Megs Jenkins as The Innkeeper
• Finlay Currie as Uncle Jim
• Gladys Henson as Aunt Larkins
• Diana Churchill as Annie Larkins
• Shelagh Fraser as Minnie Larkins
• Edward Chapman as Mr. Johnsen
• Dandy Nichols as Mrs. Johnson
• Sally Ann Howes as Christabel
• Juliet Mills as Little Polly
• Laurence Baskcomb as Mr. Rumbold
• Edie Martin as Lady on roof
• Moore Marriott as Uncle Pentstemon
• David Horne as Mr. Garvace

Many of the cast appeared in the BBC version in 1959, while Gladys Henson reprised her role in the 1949 cinema film.

Quiet and somewhat direction-less, Alfred Polly uses the money he inherits from his father to marry and to set up shop in a small town. His heart is in neither of these enterprises and he eventually resorts to desperate measures to break free. His random wanderings in the countryside lead him to a new opportunity that just might be what he's been looking for all along. Written by Jeremy Perkins