Wonderful Things!
| Wonderful Things! | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Directed by | Herbert Wilcox |
| Written by | Jack Trevor Story |
| Produced by | Anna Neagle |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Gordon Dines |
| Edited by | Basil Warren |
| Music by | Stanley Black |
Production company | Herbert Wilcox Productions (as Everest) |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Wonderful Things! is a 1958 British comedy romance film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Frankie Vaughan, Jocelyn Lane and Wilfrid Hyde-White. It was written by Jack Trevor Story.[1] Two fishermen brothers clash over the love of a woman.
It was the second of two films Wilcox made with Vaughan.[2]
The film marked the film debut of comedian Ronnie Barker, in an uncredited role as a waiter.
Cast
[edit]- Frankie Vaughan as Carmello
- Jeremy Spenser as Mario
- Jocelyn Lane as Pepita (as Jackie Lane)
- Wilfrid Hyde-White as Sir Bertram
- Jean Dawnay as Anne
- Eddie Byrne as Harry
- Harold Kasket as Poppa
- Christopher Rhodes as Codger
- Nancy Nevinson as Mamma
- Cyril Chamberlain as butler
- Barbara Goalen as herself
- Liz Fraser as hot dog seller (uncredited)
- Ronnie Barker as waiter (uncredited)
Critical reception
[edit]The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Unsophisticated and ingenuous, this quaint production lacks the polish which Herbert Wilcox usually brings to his work; if it were not all so unassuming, there would be little left to like beyond Wilfred Hyde White's one good dialogue exchange near the end, the amusingly ironic finale, and the sleek voice and poise of Jean Dawnay. Frankie Vaughan holds the centre of the stage not so much as a singer (though he has a few songs in the unaffected style of the rest of the film) but as an actor. He is noticeably less professional in this respect than the rest of the cast."[3]
Sky Movies wrote, "If you can believe in Frankie Vaughan and Jeremy Spenser as Gibraltar fishermen, you'll enjoy this Anna Neagle-produced trifle about love and life, Latin-style. Fiery Jackie Lane eclipses model Jean Dawnay's screen debut."[4]
TV Guide called the film an "engaging romance."[5]
AllMovie wrote: "Wilfred Hyde-White offers the film's best performance as the debutante's dry-witted papa."[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "Wonderful Things!". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
- ^ Harper, Sue; Porter, Vincent (2003). British cinema of the 1950s : the decline of deference. Oxford University Press. p. 158.
- ^ "Wonderful Things!". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 25 (288): 92. 1 January 1958 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Wonderful Things". Find and Watch.
- ^ "Wonderful Things!". TVGuide.com.
- ^ Hal Erickson. "Wonderful Things? (1958) - Herbert Wilcox - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
External links
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- 1958 films
- 1958 romantic comedy films
- Films shot at Associated British Studios
- Films directed by Herbert Wilcox
- British romantic comedy films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- Films scored by Stanley Black
- English-language romantic comedy films
- 1950s British film stubs
- Romantic comedy film stubs