Made in Heaven is a 1952 British Technicolor comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs which stars David Tomlinson, Petula Clark and Sonja Ziemann.[1][2][3] The screenplay was by George H. Brown and William Douglas-Home.
| Made in Heaven | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Original British 3-sheet poster | |
| Directed by | John Paddy Carstairs |
| Screenplay by | George H. Brown William Douglas-Home |
| Produced by | George H. Brown |
| Starring | David Tomlinson Petula Clark Sonja Ziemann A. E. Matthews |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Unsworth |
| Edited by | John D. Guthridge |
| Music by | Philip Martell (musical director) Ronald Hanmer (composer) |
Production company | Fanfare Productions |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot summary
editYoung married couple Basil and Julie Topham enter the ancient annual Dunmow Flitch Trials (in which a married couple can win a side of bacon if at the end of one year, they have 'not wisht themselves unmarried again'). However, the Tophams' happy household, and then an entire village is thrown into chaos with the arrival of an attractive Hungarian housemaid.
Cast
edit- David Tomlinson as Basil Topham
- Petula Clark as Julie Topham
- Sonja Ziemann as Marta
- A. E. Matthews as Hillary Topham (Grandpa)
- Charles Victor as Aubrey Topham
- Sophie Stewart as Marjorie Topham
- Philip Stainton as Stanley Grimes
- Richard Wattis as Hayworth Honeycroft, the vicar
- Michael Brennan as Sergeant Marne
- Alfie Bass as Bert Jenkins
- Dora Bryan as Ethel Jenkins
- Ferdy Mayne as István
- Athene Seyler as Miss Rosabelle Honeycroft (the vicar's sister)
- Harold Kasket as the fat man
- George Bishop as the bishop
- Margot Lister as bishop's Wife
- John Warren as Keeper of the Wheel
- Ronnie Stevens as TV announcer
- Gilbert Davis as TV gent
- Stuart Latham as porter
- Vernon Morris as Dick
- Vincent Ball as man at party
Production
editIt was shot at Pinewood Studios outside London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Maurice Carter.
Critical reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A simple-minded comedy giving a curious view of the English middle classes, who are always dressing up, for the Flitch contest, for square daricing, for amateur theatricals. These antics make the players look foolish but not, unfortunately, funny. Some time-worn jokes – mainly struggles with the English language – a pleasant, bumbling performance from A. E. Matthews, and a general failure to achieve the requisite lightness of touch. "[4]
Picturegoer wrote, ". . .when you get down to analysing the ingredients, it's just cream-puff comedy, really – and the least bit stale cream puff at that. The main thing though is not to analyse but to swallow it whole and enjoy it. It's well-tried and not always especially true British comedy, but the film has a happy air about it. Attractively grown-up Pet Clark turns in a sparkling performance as the doubting young wife. She manages to hold her own against the devastating eyelashes and flashing, wicked smiles of Sonja Ziemann as the hired help. But it's the old hands at this kind of comedy who really carry the fun along: David Tomlinson, Charles Victor and A. E. Matthews, as son, father and grandfather respectively, all stock characters. Yes it's all gay and merry. It has a springtime spirit – and a springtime look, too in its spruce, sunny Technicolour."[5]
The Radio Times concluded, "Vicar Richard Wattis and his stern sister (Athene Seyler) add considerably to the fun, which is steadily directed in an amiably sitcom-like way by John Paddy Carstairs and glossily photographed by Geoffrey Unsworth."[6]
References
edit- ^ "Made in Heaven". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 5 December 2024.
- ^ "Made in Heaven (1952)". Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
- ^ "Comedy and color are behind new British film boom". The Australian Women's Weekly. 1 October 1952. p. 58. Retrieved 17 December 2015 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Made in Heaven". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 19 (216): 173. 1 January 1952 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Made in Heaven". www.petulaclark.net.
- ^ "Made in Heaven – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016.