LAUGHTER IN PARADISE [1951 / 2020] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] Alastair Sim Sets The Whole World Laughing . . . There’s Even LAUGHTER IN PARADISE!
The four remaining relatives of famed practical joker Henry Russell are brought together to hear his last will and testament, revealing a £50,000 inheritance each if they can all complete a set task completely out of character. The assignments are designed to reflect their greatest shortcomings and test their abilities to adapt and ultimately change for the better.
Law-abiding retired army officer Deniston Russell [Alastair Sim], secretly writes scandalous novels until he is given a week to get himself arrested for an actual crime and jailed for exactly 28 days. Haughty Agnes Russell [Fay Compton] must find employment as a housekeeper in a middle-class home and retain her position for a month despite her disdain. Simon Russell [Guy Middleton], a penniless womanising rogue, would have to marry the first single woman Simon Russell speaks to, such as the Cigarette Girl [Audrey Hepburn] at the club he frequents. Finally, timid Herbert Russell [George Cole] needs to hold up the bank manager he works for with a mask and a toy pistol. Can they all pull it off in order to grab the cash?
FILM FACT: ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ was the fourth most popular film at the British box-office in 1951. The New York Times in November 1951 called the film a "merely pleasant, not especially surprising, comedy." In modern reviews, the Radio Times, David Parkinson gave the film four out of five stars, and praised the "fantastic performance of Alastair Sim as the henpecked thriller writer," adding, "the scene in which he tries to shoplift is one of the funniest in a career overladen with choice comic moments," while Britmovie called the film "a sure-fire British comedy that's sprightly execution doesn’t leave many dull moments." Rome-born director Mario Zampi [1903 – 1963] moved to Britain in 1923, starting out as an actor before turning editor in 1930 and producer in 1937, when he founded Two Cities Films with fellow countryman Filippo Del Giudice. As director, he specialised in comedy, ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ being followed by ‘Top Secret’ [1952], ‘Happy Ever After’ [1954], ‘The Naked Truth’ [1957] and ‘Too Many Crooks’ [1959], all of which display a surprisingly acute grasp of the British quirky and eccentric sense of humour.
Cast: Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, Guy Middleton, George Cole, Hugh Griffith, Ernest Thesiger, Beatrice Campbell, Mackenzie Ward, A.E. Matthews, Joyce Grenfell, Eleanor Summerfield, John Laurie, Veronica Hurst, Anthony Steel, Charlotte Mitchell, Leslie Dwyer, Colin Gordon, Ronald Adam, Michael Pertwee, Mary Germaine, Audrey Hepburn, Noel Howlett, Martin Boddey, Jack Arrow (uncredited), Paul Beradi (uncredited), John Boxer (uncredited), Eddie Boyce (uncredited), Sebastian Cabot (uncredited), George Crawford (uncredited), Dan Darnelli (uncredited), Grace Denbeigh-Russell (uncredited), Lyn Evans (uncredited), Ian Fleming (uncredited), Danny Green (uncredited), Robert Gregory (uncredited), Pat Hagan (uncredited), Victor Harrington (uncredited), Scott Harrold (uncredited), Frank Hawkins (uncredited), Arthur Howard (uncredited), Frederick Kelsey (uncredited), Eveline Kirkwood-Hackett (uncredited), Avice Landone (uncredited), Ned Lynch (uncredited), Louis Matto (uncredited), Douglas Muir (uncredited), William Murray (uncredited), Charles Saynor (uncredited), Jack Sharp (uncredited), John Sharp (uncredited), Christine Silver (uncredited), Emile Stemmler (uncredited), Toke Townley (uncredited) and John Warren (uncredited)
Director: Mario Zampi
Producer: Mario Zampi
Screenplay: Jack Davies (original story/screenplay) and Michael Pertwee (original story/screenplay)
Composer: Stanley Black
Cinematography: William McLeod (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio Stereo
Subtitles: English SDH
Running Time: 96 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: Associated British Picture Corporation / STUDIOCANAL
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: The film ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ [1951] is a black comedy from the early fifties, was shot at Ealing Studios and includes a veritable who’s who of British comedy from that time, including the likes of Alastair Sim, George Cole, Joyce Grenfell and Mackenzie Ward.
The story is a simple, but quite a genius one, whereby relatives of famed practical joker Henry Augustus Russell [Hugh Griffith] are summoned to hear his last will and testament. The four of them discover that their now deceased relative has left them each £50,000, although there are caveats to them receiving the money.
During the month following the ultra-pompous snobby Agnes Russell [Fay Compton] must find employment as a housekeeper in a middle-class home and retain her position there for the whole month and is employed by Gordon Webb [John Laurie] who at first hates and detests Agnes Russell, but at the same time there is sub-plot involving his daughter Joan Webb [Veronica Hurst] and the blossoming romance between and the private detective Roger Godfrey [Anthony Steel] hired by Gordon Webb, when his suspicions are aroused by Agnes Russell promising to pay him £1000 to stay in his employment.
Then we have timid Herbert Russell [George Cole], has to hold up his bank manager with a toy pistol while wearing a mask. When he finally works up the courage to do so, he storms into the office yelling "Reach for the sky!", and startles two real hold-up men into dropping their guns. A later radio interview reveals that he is being rewarded by being promoted to branch manager.
Simon Russell [Guy Middleton] is a womanizing cad with a string of girlfriends across London and starts worrying that one or more of them will try to marry him once word of his inheritance gets out. But Simon Russell must marry the first single woman he speaks to.
Captain Deniston Russell [Alistair Sim], who is secretly a pulp fiction writer of mostly crime novels, must get himself arrested and imprisoned for not more and not less than 28 days. Failure to succeed in their tasks means they forfeit their inheritance. But of course in the film there’s the cream of the crop, and especially Captain Deniston Russell [Alastair Sim] as he dictates under one of his many nom de plume, a “penny dreadful,” a sordid crime tale, to his adoring secretary Sheila Wilcott [Eleanor Summerfield]. “All rather disgusting,” he sighs with that Alastair Sim sigh after a particularly lurid passage. “But they seem to like The American Touch.” Captain Deniston Russell is engaged to be married “in a fortnight” to the judge Sir Charles Robson [A.E. Matthews] who has a daughter and uniformed officer fiancée Elizabeth Robson aka Fluffy [Joyce Grenfell]. But Captain Deniston Russell needs to get himself arrested and jailed for a month “for a genuine crime,” and must spend twenty-eight days in prison. Yet this proves easier said than done, especially after he befriends the local Police Sergeant [Leslie Dwyer]. The scene in which Captain Deniston Russell tries to shoplift is one of the funniest in a career overladen with choice comic moments and it's just that Alistair Sim's performance is exceptional.
With the film ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ there is a plethora and array of quirky, interesting characters in this film, and the film’s success wasn’t all placed on Alistair Sim’s broad shoulders this time around. In addition to the four main leads there’s a nice group of supporting actors who add to the fun; I especially enjoyed Ernest Thesiger’s performance as the wily and humorous Endicott, who reads the will and delivers the final twist in the tale. Sadly Audrey Hepburn only has a couple of brief cameos as a cigarette girl.
While much of the humour is somewhat twee and light for today’s audiences there is still much to tickle the funny bone, with some excellent physical comedy on display here by the likes of Alistair Sim and George Cole. Director Mario Zampi does the right thing and lets his actors “play” with the material and that has clearly paid dividends.
Of course, as the shenanigans progress, it’s clear that each character is learning a lot about themselves as they perform the various tasks their benefactor has set them. The story (co-written by Michael Pertwee – brother of Dr. Who’s Jon Pertwee, who also takes a minor role in the film) unfolds in a completely predictable and hilarious manner, with each character getting something of what they deserve, and a few twists and turns that nobody will be surprised by. Everything is held up by deft-touch comic performances and very witty dialogue. Only Agnes Russell has failed in her bid to win her share of the will, but there is of course a sting in the tale as the four of them gather to report back to Endicott with hilarious result.
The film shines with its use of subtle physical comedy, and director Mario Zampi’s moments of competent direction. Whilst these set pieces can often be abrasive in similar comedies here they are nuanced and well worked. The film effortlessly blends a feeling and tone of a light-hearted easily digestible comedy film as well as farcical and amusing comedy. Without a doubt the best scenes and dialogue are gifted to Alastair Sim and with good reason. Alastair Sim comedic timing and ungainly manner make his scenes memorable and amusing. His characters ironic nature as a pulp crime author is at times hilarious with some great set pieces. That being said the supporting cast particularly the main three characters play well against and as supporting to Alistair Sim.
‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ harks back to an England that no longer exists, allowing the indulgence to imagine that it ever did. Undoubtedly now a period piece, the nostalgia value is helped along by a now-entirely deceased cast, many of whose names live on as cultural icons in our hearts and in the nation’s psyche. The film has been restored for this release as part of STUDIOCANAL’s Vintage Classics Collection.
BONUS: I am really pleased that just before the film starts they include the original Black-and-White British Board of Film Censors logo, that informs us This is to Certify that ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ that has been Passed for UNIVERSAL EXHIBITION. The BBFC was established in 1912 as the British Board of Film Censors by members of the film industry, who would rather manage their own censorship than have national or local government do it for them. The immediate impetus for the Board's formation stemmed from the furore surrounding the release in the UK in October 1912 of the film ‘From the Manger to the Cross,’ about the life of Jesus.
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Blu-ray Image Quality – STUDIOCANAL presents us the film ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ with a wonderful Black-and-White 1080p image and is of course enhanced with a 1.37:1 aspect ratio. The Blu-ray transfer is very clean and STUDIOCANAL have done an admirable job of the preservation and clean-up of the film in the image department and is of course most enjoyable and is nicely presented here by STUDIOCANAL, who have done a really excellent job of sprucing up the print and restoring another British comedy classic back to its former glory. Please Note: Playback Region B/2: This will not play on most Blu-ray players sold in North America, Central America, South America, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Learn more about Blu-ray region specifications.
Blu-ray Audio Quality – STUDIOCANAL brings us film ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ in just one standard 1.0 LPCM Mono Audio experience. The audio is nicely rounded and also gives us a good dynamic range and is also very clear, well-modulated sound with no distortion or age-related surface noise, pops, or crackles. So all in all I give STUDIOCANAL a five star rating for their audio upgrade.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Original 1.0 uncompressed Mono Audio
Special Feature: Alastair Sim and ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ by Stephen Fry [2020] [1080p] [1.78:1 / 1.37:1] [22:26] The gregarious polymath Stephen Fry talks about one of his favourite actors, Alastair Sim, at length and explains why he thinks Alastair Sim’s story and character in the film is the strongest one. Stephen Fry compares watching Alastair Sim act like “bathing in a bath of bliss!” Stephen Fry thinks ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ is a jewel of a film, and especially the plot, and he feels Hugh Griffith is a fine Welsh actor, and talks in-depth about the four heirs in the film, and about the astonishing will that is read to the four main characters that will inherit £50,000 if they carry out certain tasks over a certain period of time to claim their inheritance, and as Stephen Fry talks about the four main characters in-depth, we get to see certain clips of the main characters he is talking about, and Stephen Fry thinks the tasks that each character has to undertake to inherit their money is totally blissful. Also Stephen Fry thinks Alastair Sim’s character is wonderful, but he also thinks Fay Compton’s pompous snob character is superb, and feels her character gains a great deal out of doing her task, and realises that you have to respect people to gain respect, but also feels the other two actors Herbert Russell and George Cole are also really good in the film. Stephen Fry also talks about the superb Alastair Sim’s acting throughout the film and thinks he was amazing and feels no other actor could be his character in the film. Stephen Fry feels if young people or young acting students have never heard of the actor Alastair Sim, then he feels these people should check out his other classic comedy films to see what a super actor Alastair Sim is. Stephen Fry also talks about the superb and brilliant actress Joyce Grenfell, who he felt was a very truthful actress and also feels, has superb comedy timing like Alastair Sim and feels people should check out the films that Alastair Sim and Joyce Grenfell have appeared together and experience how wonderful they worked together. Stephen Fry thought Alastair Sim was such a wonderful comic genius and even more so than Peter Sellers who over a period of time admired this actor a lot, but most of all Stephen Fry always wanted to meet Alastair Sim, but sadly this was not to be. But at that precise moment with the interview, it ends abruptly, but despite this, it was really great hearing all of Stephen Fry’s interesting anecdotes about the film ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ he so loves and adores, and also all the main four characters actors in the film and is definitely well worth viewing this Stephen fry interview that is so very interesting and insightful.
Special Feature: Ministry of Information Short: Save Fuel [1943] [480i] [1.37:1] [1:46] This is a Second World War British Ministry of Information newsreel trailer encouraging people not to waste fuel and featuring George Cole and Alastair Sim. The film opens with a brief shot inside of a sculpture gallery and cuts to a studio shot of a schoolboy standing by a "statue" of Nero. The schoolboy George Cole reads that Nero was "the most infamous of tyrants." The "statue" then comes to life and Nero [Alastair Sim] recounts his infamous deeds in rhyme, to which the schoolboy replies "...well I don't want to be your belittler, but your ugliest deeds are just chicken feed compared with the actions of Hitler" to which Nero retorts "I am Nero the world's wildest waster, my extravagance broke up the home... suffered from cold and burnt down the city of Rome" to which the schoolboy replies " that wasn't just cruel but wasted good fuel and that's what I call a real crime!" The film ends with a very prophetic notice "Don't be like Nero – be a good citizen and SAVE FUEL." Sadly the quality of the short film is of not very good quality, but despite this it is a very interesting and quirky rare little film.
Special Feature: Alastair Sim's Edinburgh University Rector’s Speech [1949] [1080p] [1.78:1] [40:57] This is an audio-only curiosity, when Alastair Sim (1900 – 1976) gave a speech at what sounds to be a graduation dinner for the Edinburgh University students. In 1949 Alastair Sim beat the then future Prime Minister Harold MacMillan in a student vote to become Rector of The University of Edinburgh. Alastair Sim achieved a comfortable victory, polling 2,078 votes to Harold Macmillan's 802. This is Alastair Sim's inspirational Rectorial Address that he gave to the students, and was co-written by his friend, playwright James Birdie who also wrote a play What They Say about the Rector of a fictitious Scottish university. It was recorded onto eleven 78 rpm vinyl records over 70 years ago and was digitised in March 2020, and the quality reflects this. With thanks to the McKendrick family. The Lord Rector of The University of Edinburgh is elected every three years by the students and staff at The University of Edinburgh. Seldom referred to as Lord Rector, the incumbent is more commonly known just as the Rector. The sound quality is a bit ropey, especially early on in the recording, but it improves later on. The students seem to find much of what Alistair Sim says unfeasibly funny for some reason – they’re probably all very drunk I suspect!
Special Feature: Behind The Scenes Stills Gallery [1951] [1080p] [1.78:1] [0:44] Here we get to view Eleven Black-and-White publicity photos relating to the film ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE.’ While viewing the slide show, you get to hear in the background the composed film score by Stanley Black.
Finally, ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ has always been thought of as an inspired Ealing comedy, and more recently for Audrey Hepburn’s first role in an English language film. ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ is much richer than this superficial prerequisite suggests. ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ is a subtle, light and at times heartfelt comedy in which its plot elevates most of the actor’s comedic capabilities. Whilst at times it feels heavy handed in trying to find a profound and insightful message and a lesson to learn for its characters. ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ is a light, amusing eccentric British comedy. The comedic set pieces afforded to Alistair Sim and to a lesser extent George Cole is where the film shines with its farcical nature. The locations and sets really add to the quintessential English charm of that period of filmmaking, and it was great to see some vintage cars being used in their prime! Sadly, there’s some slightly dodgy back-projection on display, but one can forgive that due to the technical knowhow they were using at the time. ‘LAUGHTER IN PARADISE’ is a delight from start to finish. The ending is a little predictable and the whole thing isn’t as witty or acerbic as the films Ealing were making at the same time. However it hasn’t dated at all and the unique premise is executed perfectly by a cast at the top of their game. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
