Cheer Up (film)

Cheer Up
Directed by	Leo Mittler
Written by	Stanley Lupino Michael Barringer
Produced by	Stanley Lupino
Starring	Stanley Lupino Sally Gray Roddy Hughes Gerald Barry
Cinematography	Curt Courant
Edited by	Ronald Deeming
Music by	Percival Mackey
Production company	Stanley Lupino Productions
Distributed by	Associated British Film Distributors
Release date	February 1936 (1936-02)
Running time	72 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Cheer Up is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Leo Mittler and starring Stanley Lupino, Sally Gray and Roddy Hughes. ^[1] It was written by Lupino and Michael Barringer.

Plot

An impoverished team of composer and songwriter try to secure financial backing for their new musical, with the assistance of a struggling actress working as a housemaid.

Cast

• Stanley Lupino as Tom Denham
• Sally Gray as Sally Gray
• Roddy Hughes as Dick Dirk
• Gerald Barry as John Harman
• Kenneth Kove as Wilfred Harman
• Wyn Weaver as Mr. Carter
• Marjorie Chard as Mrs. Carter
• Ernest Sefton as Tom Page
• Syd Crossley as waiter
• Arty Ash as head porter
• Arthur Rigby as Bill Ratchett
• Doris Rogers as Mrs. Pearce

Reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "The pick-up of this musical comedy is not too good, it makes a far from snappy and confident start, but once the simple plot takes tangible shape, and Sally Gray is permitted to join the experienced comedy team, good light entertainment comes the picture's way. The song numbers have melody, and the changes are rung on these and the slapstick interludes effectively until the stage is set for the grand finale, while the climax itself is a happy and ingenious amplification of that which has stood the test of time in legitimate stage shows. Fashioned in a popular mould, and dispensed by stellar players who know their job, the film is a first-rate comedy musical for the masses." ^[2]

Picture Show wrote: "The trifling story of this musical comedy matters about as little as musical comedy stories do matter. ... Its main appeal is its dancing, music and comedy, Sally Gray, a newcomer, makes a lively and attractive leading lady." ^[3]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", calling it: "Trifling but boisterous." ^[4]

Production

It was made at Ealing Studios by Lupino's own independent production company. ^[5]

References

1. "Cheer Up". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
2. "Cheer Up". Kine Weekly . 227 (1502): 21. 30 January 1936. ProQuest   2339711603.
3. "Cheer Up". Picture Show . 35 (892): 19. 6 June 1936. ProQuest   1880314808.
4. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 48. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
5. Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939 (PDF). British Film Institute. p. 85. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 October 2022.

External links

• Cheer Up at IMDb