Windfall (1955 film)

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Windfall
"Windfall" (1955).jpg
Original Australian daybill
Directed by Henry Cass
Screenplay by John Gilling
Produced by Robert S. Baker
Monty Berman
Starring Lionel Jeffries
Jack Watling
Gordon Jackson
CinematographyMonty Berman
Edited by Maurice Rootes
Production
company
Mid Century Film Productions
Distributed by Eros Films (UK)
Release date
  • February 1955 (1955-02)(UK)
Running time
77 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Windfall, also released as Dangerous Money, is a 1955 British second feature ('B') [1] comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring Lionel Jeffries, Jack Watling and Gordon Jackson. It was written by John Gilling. [2] [3] It is a remake of the 1935 film of the same title.

Contents

Plot

The lives of shop assistant Arthur Lee and his family are transformed when he finds £2,000 on top of a bus. Arthur's daughter's dodgy boy friend steals the money, but lands in trouble when it's discovered to be counterfeit. Things turn out well for Arthur when the resulting publicity gives a boost to his business. [4]

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "An unpretentious and naive film; the humour of the early passages is more acceptable than the seriousness or sentimentality of the later ones. The acting is generally adequate, with hard work by Lionel Jeffries in the most substantial part." [5]

Kine Weekly wrote: "Neatly fashioned domestic-cum-financial comedy drama. ... Its humour, slightly satirical, and sentiment are down-to-earth, and Lionel Jeffries, immense in the lead, smoothly blends them into a warm and diverting whole. A little gem of its type, it'll tickle all classes." [6]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Pleasant, unpretentious parable." [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2009). The British 'B' Film. London: BFI/Bloomsbury. p. 88. ISBN   978-1-8445-7319-6.
  2. ↑ "Windfall". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  3. ↑ "Windfall". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Windfall". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 30 March 2017.
  5. ↑ "Windfall" . The Monthly Film Bulletin . 22 (252): 142. 1 January 1955 – via ProQuest.
  6. ↑ "Windfall" . Kine Weekly . 460 (2509): 16. 28 July 1955 – via ProQuest.
  7. ↑ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 400. ISBN   0-7134-1874-5.
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