Breach of Promise (1942 film)

Last updated

Breach of Promise
Breach of Promise film Lobby card (1942-2).jpg
Directed by Harold Huth, Roland Pertwee
Written byStory: Emeric Pressburger
Screenplay: Emeric Pressburger, Roland Pertwee
Produced byRichard Norton
Starring Clive Brook, Judy Campbell, C. V. France, Marguerite Allan, Percy Walsh
Cinematography Jack E. Cox
Edited by Sidney Cole
Production
company
British Mercury
Distributed by MGM (UK), English Films (U.S.)
Release dates
  • 20 April 1942 (1942-04-20)(UK)
  • 5 August 1943 (1943-08-05)(U.S.)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Breach of Promise (aslso known as Adventure in Blackmail [1] ) is a 1942 British romantic comedy film directed by Harold Huth and starring Clive Brook, Judy Campbell, C.V. France, Marguerite Allan and Percy Walsh. [1] It was written by Emeric Pressburger and Roland Pertwee.

Contents

Plot

A playwright meets a young woman and she soon files a fake breach of promise action against him, hoping to receive a blackmail payment. Instead he decides to marry her to teach her a lesson. [2]

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This story is described on the synopsis as a gay, lighthearted farce but it is not played as such. As played it is romance with some comedy and as such is very effective. Judy Campbell has plenty to give when she loses some little mannerisms, and adds a distinctive touch to the characterisation of Pamela Lawrence. Clive Brook is, as usual, very finished in performance as, of course, is that excellent artist C. V. France as Morgan, the crooked lawyer." [3]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Clive Brook, although a little stilted for this light-hearted comedy, nevertheless gives a polished performance. The theme is well pointed and its situations capably handled. There is quite a good element of surprise and the romantic angle is popular." [4]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Ordinary comedy, stiffly played." [5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Breach of Promise". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  2. ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | BREACH OF PROMISE (1941)". 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 15 January 2009. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  3. ↑ "Breach of Promise". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 9 (97): 1. 1 January 1942. ProQuest   1305818968.
  4. ↑ "Breach of Promise". Kine Weekly . 345 (2012): 29. 8 November 1945. ProQuest   2676979001.
  5. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 195. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.