Treasure Hunt | |
---|---|
Directed by | John Paddy Carstairs |
Written by | Rita Davison Anatole de Grunwald |
Based on | Treasure Hunt by Molly Keane (writing as M.J. Farrell) and John Perry |
Produced by | Anatole de Grunwald |
Starring | Jimmy Edwards Martita Hunt Naunton Wayne Athene Seyler |
Cinematography | C.M. Pennington-Richards |
Edited by | Ralph Kemplen |
Music by | Mischa Spoliansky |
Production companies | De Grunwald Productions Romulus Films |
Distributed by | Independent Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 79 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Treasure Hunt is a 1952 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Martita Hunt, Jimmy Edwards, Naunton Wayne and Athene Seyler. [1] It is based on the 1949 play Treasure Hunt by Molly Keane (writing as M.J. Farrell) and John Perry.
On his death, the eccentric family of rakish Sir Roderick Lyall gathers at his ancestral Irish mansion, Ballyroden Hall, for the reading of the will. Everyone is shocked to hear that, once debts are paid, the only asset remaining will be the mansion. The family doctor, Mr. Walsh, suggests the mansion be turned into a guest house to bring in funds. Half the family supports the idea, but Uncle Hercules and Consuelo endeavour to sabotage the scheme. All the while, Aunt Anna Rose insists she has mislaid a fortune in jewels – but her story is doubted due to her eccentric personality. When the first paying guests, Eustace Mills, Mrs. Cleghorn-Thomas and daughter Yvonne), arrive for their holiday, expecting peace and quiet, they find themselves caught up in a series of farcical situations caused by their hosts.
The film was shot at Teddington Studios in London, which had been for many years the base of the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers. It was the last film to be shot there, before it was later taken over as a television production facility. The film's sets were designed by the art director John Howell.
Britmovie called it a "Minor farce"; [2] while Sky Movies wrote, "Producer Anatole de Grunwald adapted the stage play by M J Farrell and John Perry in an enjoyably straightforward way. Director John Paddy Cartairs handles the film with appropriate vitality, making the most of the basically conventional stage Irish characters. Martita Hunt and Athene Seyler stand out in a large cast, among whom are such familiar faces as Miles Malleson, Alfie Bass and Hammer Films regular Michael Ripper." [3]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Cast play with spirit but on several different levels: farce varies between flat and fizzy" [4]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Theatrical comedy with some charm and humour, but very much a photographed play." [5]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "Artist/novelist/screenwriter John Paddy Carstairs adapts MJ Farrell and John Perry's hit stage play, managing to capture much of the eccentric charm of the piece ... A first class cast is headed by Jimmy Edwards, here turning in another larger than life performance in a dual role." [6]
Naunton Wayne, was a Welsh character actor, born in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, Wales. He was educated at Clifton College. His name was changed by deed poll in 1933.
Athene Seyler, CBE was an English actress.
John Paddy Carstairs was a British film director (1933–62) and television director (1962–64), usually of light-hearted subject matter. He was also a comic novelist and painter.
Treasure hunt generally refers to:
Double Bunk is a 1961 British black-and-white comedy film directred by C.M. Pennington-Richards and starring Ian Carmichael and Sid James.
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Tilly of Bloomsbury is a 1940 British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscot and starring Sydney Howard, Jean Gillie, Kathleen Harrison and Henry Oscar. It was based on the play Tilly of Bloomsbury by Ian Hay. The screenplay concerns a young woman who falls in love with an aristocrat, and attempts to convince his family that she is of their social class.
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Quiet Wedding is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding. The screenplay was written by Terence Rattigan and Anatole de Grunwald based on the play Quiet Wedding by Esther McCracken. The film was remade in 1958 as Happy Is the Bride.
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Nurse on Wheels is a 1963 British comedy film directed by Gerald Thomas, and starring Juliet Mills, Ronald Lewis, and Joan Sims. It was based on the story Nurse is my Neighbour by Joanna Jones, a pseudonym of John Burke.
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Just My Luck is a 1957 British sports comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom, Margaret Rutherford, Jill Dixon and Leslie Phillips.
Made in Heaven is a 1952 British Technicolor comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs which stars David Tomlinson, Petula Clark and Sonja Ziemann. The screenplay was based on a story by William Douglas-Home. It was shot at Pinewood Studios outside London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Maurice Carter.
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