Isn't Life Wonderful!
1953 film by Harold French
- 16 November 1953 (1953-11-16)
Running time
Isn't Life Wonderful! is a 1953 British technicolor period comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Cecil Parker, Eileen Herlie and Donald Wolfit.[4] The film was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British with sets designed by the art director Terence Verity. It was released in the United States as Uncle Willie's Bicycle Shop, the title of Brock Williams original 1948 novel based on his boyhood experiences.[5]
Plot
In Edwardian England, alcoholic Uncle Willie (Donald Wolfit) is an embarrassment to his family. Head of the household father (Cecil Parker), decides to set Willie up as the manager of a bicycle shop, hoping to impress visiting American heiress Virginia van Stuyden (Dianne Foster). The surprise for everyone comes when Uncle Willie's little shop begins to prosper.
Cast
- Cecil Parker as Father
- Eileen Herlie as Mother
- Donald Wolfit as Uncle Willie
- Peter Asher as Charles
- Eleanor Summerfield as Aunt Kate
- Dianne Foster as Virginia van Stuyden
- Robert Urquhart as Frank
- Russell Waters as Green
- Cecil Trouncer as Dr. Barsmith
- Philip Stainton as Dr. Mason
- Edwin Styles as Bamboula
- Arthur Young as Sir George Probus
- Fabia Drake as Lady Probus
- Alec Finter as Uncle Richard
- Cicely Paget-Bowman as Aunt Theo
- Basil Cunard as Uncle Henry
- Viola Lyel as Aunt Jane
- John Welsh as Uncle James
- Margot Lister as Aunt Betsy
- Henry Hewitt as Cousin Arthur
- George Woodbridge as Cockie
- Wensley Pithey as Sam
Critical reception
TV Guide called it "A pleasant little charmer";[6] while Sky Cinema wrote, "Director Harold French skilfully milks its situations for all they are worth...No big stars in this film, which makes it an unexpected treat. Based on an equally entertaining novel Uncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop. Donald Wolfit stars as the alcoholic Uncle Willie, Cecil Parker suffers splendidly as Father."[7]
References
- ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-095194-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ "ISN'T LIFE WONDERFUL - British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk.
- ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p502
- ^ "Isn't Life Wonderful! (1953)". Archived from the original on 28 August 2016.
- ^ "UNCLE WILLIE AND THE BICYCLE SHOP, by Brock Williams— George G. Harrap and Co, LTD., London". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 April 1949.
- ^ "Isn't Life Wonderful!". TVGuide.com.
- ^ "Isn't Life Wonderful!".
External links
- Isn't Life Wonderful! at BFI
- Isn't Life Wonderful! at IMDb
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Films directed by Harold French
- The Cavalier of the Streets (1937)
- Dead Men are Dangerous (1939)
- The House of the Arrow (1940)
- Major Barbara (1941)
- Jeannie (1941)
- The Day Will Dawn (1942)
- Unpublished Story (1942)
- Secret Mission (1942)
- Talk About Jacqueline (1942)
- Dear Octopus (1943)
- English Without Tears (1944)
- Mr. Emmanuel (1944)
- Quiet Weekend (1946)
- White Cradle Inn (1947)
- My Brother Jonathan (1948)
- The Blind Goddess (1948)
- Quartet (segment) (1948)
- Adam and Evelyne (1949)
- The Dancing Years (1950)
- Trio (1950)
- Encore (1951)
- The Hour of 13 (1952)
- The Man Who Watched Trains Go By (1952)
- Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (1953)
- Isn't Life Wonderful! (1953)
- Forbidden Cargo (1954)
- The Man Who Loved Redheads (1955)
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