Happidrome (film)
Happidrome | |
---|---|
Directed by | Phil Brandon |
Screenplay by |
|
Based on | Happidrome (radio) |
Produced by |
|
Starring |
|
Cinematography | Geoffrey Faithfull |
Edited by | Alan Jaggs |
Music by | Bretton Byrd |
Production company | Aldwych Films |
Distributed by | MGM |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Happidrome is a 1943 British comedy film directed by Philip Brandon and starring Harry Korris, Robbie Vincent and Cecil Fredericks.[1] It was a spin-off from the Happidrome BBC radio series which was popular at the time.[2] The film was made at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, and produced by the musical star Jack Buchanan. The sets were designed by the art director William Hemsley.
Synopsis
[edit]Mr Lovejoy, a struggling actor-manager returns to a small provincial town with plans to put on a show. Despite having debts there during the previous visit, he is cunningly able to keep his show on the road and gains free advertising in a newspaper by announcing that local talent will be cast. In the meantime he acquires two incompetent assistants, Enoch and Ramsbottom, and Bunty Meadows, an eager would-be star also wangles her way into the company. A statuesque but domineering Russian prima donna also joins the cast.
Bunty's determination to become a leading lady has a disastrous effect on the opening night which is supposed to be a serious play about Ancient Rome, but quickly descends into a total farce. With the audience extremely amused, the show is quickly rebilled as a comedy.
Cast
[edit]- Harry Korris as Mr Lovejoy
- Robbie Vincent as Enoch
- Cecil Fredericks as Ramsbottom
- Bunty Meadows as Bunty Mossup
- Lisa Lee as Tanya / Josephine
- Jennie Gregson as Mrs Bane
- Muriel Zillah as Muriel
- Connie Creighton as Connie
- Marie Lawson as Marie
- Olga Stevenson as Miss D'Orsay
- Joss Ambler as Mr Mossup
- Valentine Dunn as Mrs Mossup
- Bryan Herbert as Newspaper editor
- Arthur Hambling as Jones Jnr.
- Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson as himself
- Cairoli Brothers as Themselves
- Billy Wells as Ivan
References
[edit]Bibliography
[edit]- Richards, Jeffrey. Films and British National Identity: from Dickens to Dad's Army. Manchester University Press, 1997.
External links
[edit]- Happidrome at IMDb