Follow That Horse!

Last updated

Follow That Horse!
Follow That Horse! (1960 film).jpg
British quad poster
Directed by Alan Bromly
Screenplay by Alfred Shaughnessy
William Douglas-Home (additional scenes)
Howard Mason (adapted by)
Based onthe novel Photo Finish
by Howard Mason
Produced by Thomas Clyde
Starring David Tomlinson
Cecil Parker
Richard Wattis
Dora Bryan
Mary Peach
Cinematography Norman Warwick
Edited byGerald Turney-Smith
Music by Stanley Black
Production
companies
Distributed by Warner-Pathé Distributors (U.K.)
Release date
  • 11 July 1960 (1960-07-11)
(London) (U.K.)
Running time
80 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Follow That Horse! is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Alan Bromly and starring David Tomlinson, Cecil Parker, Richard Wattis, Mary Peach and Dora Bryan. [1] [2] The screenplay was by Alfred Shaughnessy and William Douglas-Home based on the 1954 novel Photo Finish by Howard Mason.

Contents

Plot

Various parties including scientists and spies chase after a horse that has eaten a roll of microfilm. [3]

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A standard, old-fashioned British farce is coaxed along by the subtly timed performances of David Tomlinson, Cecil Parker and Richard Wattis. Briskness and gusto stiffen much that is limp in the situations and offset the undistinguished humour, but only just." [4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture lacks the astringent wit of recent comedies that have cashed in by ridiculing Establishments, but nevertheless has its amusing moments. ... The scenes in Whitehall and Cherwell's laboratories contain some bright satire, but the intestinal humour, arising from the fight against time for the possession of the horse before nature does her work, creates the loudest chuckles." [5]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Vigorous playing by cast of scene-stealers just get antiquated farce by. " [6]

TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, calling it "Harmlessly silly." [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Its Great to Be Young</i> (1956 film) 1956 British film by Cyril Frankel

It's Great to Be Young is a 1956 British Technicolor musical comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Cecil Parker and John Mills. It was written by Ted Willis. The story concerns an inspirational school music teacher.

<i>Charleys (Big-Hearted) Aunt</i> 1940 British film by Walter Forde

Charley's (Big-Hearted) Aunt is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde, starring Arthur Askey and Richard Murdoch. The screenplay was by J.O.C. Orton, Marriott Edgar and Ralph Smart, adapted from the 1892 Victorian farce Charley's Aunt by Brandon Thomas. Arthur Askey's professional nickname was "Big-Hearted Arthur", which was added to the title to distinguish it from Jack Benny's version Charley's Aunt (1941), for its (limited) American release.

<i>Follow a Star</i> 1959 British film by Robert Asher

Follow a Star is a 1959 British black and white comedy musical film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom, June Laverick and Jerry Desmonde. It was written by Henry Blyth, Jack Davies and Wisdom.

<i>Dry Rot</i> (film) 1956 British film by Maurice Elvey

Dry Rot is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey, and starring Ronald Shiner, Brian Rix, Peggy Mount, and Sid James. The screenplay is by John Chapman, adapted from his 1954 Whitehall farce of the same name.

<i>Carry On Admiral</i> 1957 British comedy film by Val Guest

Carry on Admiral is a 1957 British comedy film directed by Val Guest and featuring David Tomlinson and Ronald Shiner. Joan Hickson also made an appearance in this film and a few films in the Carry On series. It was based on the 1947 stage play Off the Record, written by Ian Hay.

<i>Inn for Trouble</i> 1960 British film by C. M. Pennington-Richards

Inn for Trouble is a 1960 black and white British comedy film directed by C.M. Pennington-Richards and starring Peggy Mount, David Kossoff and Leslie Phillips. It was a spin-off of the ITV sitcom The Larkins (1958–1964). The film is notable for the final credited appearances of Graham Moffatt and A. E. Matthews.

<i>Castle in the Air</i> (film) 1952 British film by Henry Cass

Castle in the Air is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring David Tomlinson, Helen Cherry and Margaret Rutherford. The screenplay was by Edward Dryhurst and Alan Melville based on Melville's 1949 stage play of the same title. Produced by ABPC, the film was made at the company's Elstree Studios.

<i>A French Mistress</i> 1960 British film by Roy Boulting

A French Mistress is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Cecil Parker, James Robertson Justice, Agnès Laurent, Ian Bannen, Raymond Huntley, Irene Handl and Thorley Walters.

<i>The Night We Got the Bird</i> 1961 British film by Darcy Conyers

The Night We Got the Bird is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Darcy Conyers and starring Brian Rix, Dora Bryan, Ronald Shiner and Irene Handl. It was written by Conyers, Rix and Tony Hilton, based on Basil Thomas's 1957 play The Lovebirds.

<i>As Long as Theyre Happy</i> 1955 British film by J. Lee Thompson

As Long as They're Happy is a 1955 British musical comedy film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Jack Buchanan, Susan Stephen and Diana Dors. It was written by Alan Melville based on the 1953 play of the same name by Vernon Sylvaine. It was shot in Eastmancolor at Pinewood Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Michael Stringer.

<i>Your Money or Your Wife</i> 1960 British film by Anthony Simmons

Your Money or Your Wife is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Anthony Simmons and starring Donald Sinden, Peggy Cummins, and Richard Wattis. It was based on the play Count Your Blessings by Ronald Jeans. A couple must divorce in order to inherit a fortune.

<i>Top Secret</i> (1952 film) 1952 British film by Mario Zampi

Top Secret is a 1952 British black and white comedy film directed by Mario Zampi and starring George Cole, Oskar Homolka and Nadia Gray. It was written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee. A sanitation inspector is mistaken for an international spy.

<i>A Touch of the Sun</i> (1956 film) 1956 British comedy film

A Touch of the Sun is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Frankie Howerd, Ruby Murray and Dennis Price. It was written by Alfred Shaughnessy.

<i>Whispering Smith Hits London</i> 1952 British film

Whispering Smith Hits London is a 1952 British second feature ('B') mystery film directed by Francis Searle and starring Richard Carlson, Greta Gynt and Herbert Lom. The screenplay was by John Gilling. It was released in the United States by RKO Pictures.

<i>See How They Run</i> (1955 film) 1955 British film by Leslie Arliss

See How They Run is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Leslie Arliss and starring Ronald Shiner, Greta Gynt, James Hayter and Wilfrid Hyde-White. It was written by Arliss, Philip King, Roy Miller and Val Valentine, based on the King's 1944 play of the same name. It was produced by Bill Luckwell and Derek Winn for Winwell.

<i>Home Sweet Home</i> (1945 film) 1945 British film

Home Sweet Home is a 1945 British musical comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley, written by Roney Parsons and Anthony Toner, and starring Frank Randle, Nicolette Roeg and Tony Pendrell. Set in the fictitious town of Redvale, the film is largely a vehicle for slapstick routines by Randle.

<i>Its in the Bag</i> (1944 film) 1944 film by Herbert Mason

It's in the Bag is a 1944 British comedy film directed by Herbert Mason and starring Elsie Waters, Doris Waters and Ernest Butcher. It was produced and distributed by Butcher's Film Service. Gert and Daisy try to recover a valuable lost dress.

<i>Death in High Heels</i> 1947 British short film by Lionel Tomlinson

Death in High Heels is a 1947 British second feature ('B') crime film directed by Lionel Tomlinson and starring Don Stannard, Elsa Tee and Veronica Rose. It was based on the 1941 novel of the same title by Christianna Brand. It was a very early Hammer Films production and was released through Exclusive Films, Hammer's original incarnation.

<i>The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp</i> 1954 British film by Alan Bromly

The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp is a 1954 British fantasy comedy film directed by Alan Bromly and starring Felix Aylmer, Diane Cilento and Jerry Desmonde. The film was based on a novel by Charles Terrot and is a remake of his television play broadcast in 1951. It was remade as a West German film of the same title in 1959.

<i>Always a Bride</i> (1953 film) 1953 film by Ralph Smart

Always a Bride is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring Peggy Cummins, Terence Morgan and Ronald Squire. It was written by Peter Jones and Smart.

References

  1. "Follow That Horse!". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. "Follow That Horse! (1960)". Archived from the original on 18 January 2017.
  3. "Follow That Horse! (1960) - Alan Bromly - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  4. "Follow That Horse!". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 27 (312): 112. 1 January 1960 via ProQuest.
  5. "Follow That Horse!". Kine Weekly . 517 (2750): 29. 16 June 1960 via ProQuest.
  6. Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 311. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
  7. "Follow That Horse!". TVGuide.com.