The Body Said No!

The Body Said No!
UK theatrical release poster
Directed by	Val Guest
Written by	Val Guest
Produced by	Daniel Angel
Starring	Michael Rennie Yolande Donlan Hy Hazell
Cinematography	Bert Mason
Edited by	Sam Simmonds
Music by	Ronald Hanmer
Production companies	Angel Productions Grand National Film Productions
Distributed by	Eros Films
Release date	8 May 1950 (1950-05-08)
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

The Body Said No! is a 1950 British crime comedy film directed and written by Val Guest and starring Michael Rennie, Yolande Donlan, and Hy Hazell. ^{[1] [2]} It was shot at Walton Studios near London and distributed by Eros Films.

Plot

In a British TV studio, Michael Rennie (as himself) is performing live in a dramatic broadcast. On a neighbouring set, cabaret singer Mikki Brent thinks she sees a coded plot being discussed to murder Rennie. Her friends are sceptical, but she warns Rennie, and various adventures and investigations ensue.

Cast

• Michael Rennie as The Body
• Yolande Donlan as Mikki Brent
• Hy Hazell as Sue
• Jon Pertwee as watchman
• Valentine Dyall as John Sutherland
• Reginald Beckwith as Benton
• Arthur Hill as Robin King
• Cyril Smith as sergeant
• Jack Billings as Eddie
• Peter Butterworth as driver
• Maggie Rennie as Mrs Rennie
• Joyce Heron as journalist
• Winifred Shotter as TV announcer
• Eddie Vitch as diner
• Ivan Craig as Derek
• Barry O'Neill as constable
• Jack Faint as Anton
• Sam Kydd as Sam

Production

The film was written as a vehicle for Yolande Dolan.^{[ citation needed ]} She was reunited with Michael Rennie who had appeared with her in Miss Pilgrim's Progress (1949). ^[3]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Cabaret numbers help to fill out the slim material, and Yolande Donlan as the dizzy girl provides her own brand of accomplished comedy." ^[4]

Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture, staged in authentic atmosphere, introduces cabaret turns without lessening tension. The bright and colourful asides not only prevent thc basic joke from being overplayed, but enable t!ie star fully to exploit her charm and versatility. Laughable and thrilling in turn, it's rattling good money's worth." ^[5]

TV Guide wrote: "an early inside glimpse of the television world, but a paranoid no-brainer." ^[6]

References

1. "The Body Said No!". British Film Institute. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
2. "The Body Said No!". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009.
3. Fowler, Roy (1988). "Interview with Val Guest". British Entertainment History Project.
4. "The Body Said No!". The Monthly Film Bulletin . 17 (193): 65. 1 January 1950. ProQuest   1305812440 – via ProQuest.
5. "The Body Said No!" . Kine Weekly . 398 (2242): 24. 20 April 1950 – via ProQuest.
6. "The Body Said No!". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017.

External links

• The Body Said No! at IMDb