It's Never Too Late (1956 film)

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It's Never Too Late
"It's Never Too Late" (1956 film).jpg
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Directed by Michael McCarthy
Written by Edward Dryhurst
Based onplay It's Never Too Late by Felicity Douglas
Produced byGeorge Pitcher
Jules Simmons
Starring Phyllis Calvert
Patrick Barr
Susan Stephen
Guy Rolfe
Cinematography C. M. Pennington-Richards
Edited by Charles Hasse
Music by Wally Stott
Louis Levy
Production
company
Park Lane Films
Distributed by Associated British-Pathé (UK)
Release date
  • May 1956 (1956-05)(UK)
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office£128,208 [1]

It's Never Too Late is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Phyllis Calvert, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen and Guy Rolfe. [2] [3] It was written by Edward Dryhurst based on the 1952 play of the same name by Felicity Douglas. [4]

Contents

Plot

Feeling her combative family has long taken her for granted, genteel British housewife Laura Hammond somehow finds time to write a film script amidst the chaos of her home life. Her work catches the attention of a Hollywood producer, and Laura unexpectedly finds herself the author of a hit film. She also finds she can only write when she's surrounded by her dysfunctional family. Eventually, Laura must choose between being a highly paid writer and celebrity or a housewife.

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "This adaptation from the stage play consists mainly of a series of jokes strung together to form a typical 'matinee special'. Phyllis Calvert gives a spirited performance as the harassed but dependable matriarch-cum-author. The rest of the players do their best to enliven the stage clichés." [5]

TV Guide noted, "some clever moments, but the film suffers from a staginess that makes it a mildly amusing comedy at best". [6]

The Radio Times found it "an amiable comedy ...This is very much of its time, with its West End origins masked by skilful art direction, but the period cast is a British film fan's delight: Guy Rolfe, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen, Irene Handl, and even a young Shirley Anne Field. Director Michael McCarthy whips up a fair old storm in this particular teacup, and, although nothing really happens, there's a great deal of pleasure to be had from watching Calvert attempt to rule over her unruly household." [7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "good", writing: "Bright, frothy, if stagy comedy with many a chuckle." [8]

References

  1. ↑ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20, No 4, 2000 p. 510
  2. ↑ "It's Never Too Late". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  3. ↑ "It's Never Too Late (1956)". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
  4. ↑ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN   9783110951943 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "It's Never Too Late". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 23 (264): 77. 1 January 1956. ProQuest   1305813508.
  6. ↑ "It's Never Too Late". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  7. ↑ Tony Sloman. "It's Never Too Late". RadioTimes.
  8. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 330. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
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