| When You Come Home | |
|---|---|
 Original British quad poster | |
| Directed by | John Baxter |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | John Baxter |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
| Edited by | Ted Richards |
| Music by | Percival Mackey |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Butcher's Film Service |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
When You Come Home is a 1948 British comedy film directed by John Baxter and starring Frank Randle, Leslie Sarony and Leslie Holmes. [1]
When the music hall where he works is threatened with closure, a handyman organises an effort to save it.
The film had a larger production budget than Randle's previous films, which had been made in Manchester. [2]
Monthly Film Bulletin said "The film runs to an inordinate length and would be vastly improved by the omission of numerous ramifications of plot and superfluous turns which merely hold up the action without contributing to the furtherance of thestory. In an abbreviated version Randle’s performance, at present somewhat disjointed, would have a chance to acquire some sort of shape and coherence. The film does at least, however, display his versatility and promise of a definite ability to play "character" parts. In a large supporting cast, Hilda Bayley shines as the owner of the Empire." [3]
Variety wrote "With 40 years experience making pictures, Butchers are convinced that audiences want to laugh. Here they have starred a comedian, unknown to London’s West End, whose following elsewhere in Britain exceeds that of any U.S. star. Frank Randall is as indigenous and as British to the North of England as is tripe. Without playing any of the big circuits his last five pictures are reported to have grossed $2,000,000. ... When you Come Home has all the ingredients of a silent comedy. Custard pies hurtle through the air to land smack on the faces of the rich and snooty. Villainy is unmasked, virtue rewarded, and true love comes into its own. It’s that simple. … Everything in the film is sacrificed for laughs. It doesn’t stand any chance in high-grade cinemas, but it will do well elsewhere in this country. [4]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "Director John Baxter, once Britain's most uncompromising disciple of social realism, hit his cinematic nadir with this desperate flashback comedy. Rarely able to project his popular music-hall persona into movies, Frank Randle comes across as a colossal bore in this nostalgic wallow as he regales his granddaughter with tall tales from his chequered past. Adding to the torment are the songs. For movie masochists only." [5]
In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Enormously long and artless comedy with musical turns" [6]
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