Something Money Can't Buy | |
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![]() British Quad poster by Dougie Post | |
Directed by | Pat Jackson |
Written by | Pat Jackson J.L. Hodson |
Produced by | Joseph Janni |
Starring | Anthony Steel Patricia Roc Moira Lister |
Cinematography | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
Edited by | Sidney Hayers |
Music by | Nino Rota |
Production companies | British Film-Makers Vic Films |
Distributed by | General Film Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 83 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | £121,000 [1] |
Something Money Can't Buy is a 1952 British comedy drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel and Moira Lister. [2] The film was made with backing from the NFFC as part of its British Film-Makers project with the Rank Organisation. [3] The film was distributed by Rank's General Film Distributors. In America it was released by Universal Pictures in 1953.
The film was shot at Pinewood Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky. The film was a rare comedy role for Steel, who made it immediately prior to shooting The Planter's Wife (1952). It involved Roc returning to London after two years in Paris, where she lived with her French husband. She and Steel had an affair during the making of the movie which resulted in Roc having Steel's baby. [4] It was the only comedy Steel made while a star. [5]
Harry and Anne Wilding return to civilian life after service in the army. They have trouble readjusting, and Harry eventually resigns from his council job and goes into business, selling food from a mobile canteen. Anne becomes jealous of the daughter of Harry's backer. Anne gives up her job to concentrate on her marriage. [6]
The Monthly Film Bulletin described it as "a double disappointment from the director of White Corridors ; the poverty-stricken material apart, its staging is uncharacteristically flabby, with none of the polish and professionalism of its predecessor." [7]
Variety said it was "handled with an assured light touch by a competent cast". [8]
Pat Jackson later said "It ought to have been a good film, it had a certain charm, the story had a certain charm. I think I just did it badly, I directed badly, I don't know what it was, it just didn't work. It was my fault and that was it; it was a simple as that...It needed great lightness of touch, which I didn't get... It was all in the script, the script was charming. I think James and I wrote a nice script and he was a great help and a wonderful man, James. But no. I botched it." [9]
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Anthony Maitland Steel was a British actor and singer who appeared in British war films of the 1950s such as The Wooden Horse (1950) and Where No Vultures Fly. He was also known for his tumultuous marriage to Anita Ekberg.
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