VICE VERSA [1948 / 2022] [Blu-ray] [UK Release] Ladies and Gentlemen J. Arthur Rank presents Roger Livesey in ‘VICE VERSA’
Roger Livesey and a very young Anthony Newley star as a Victorian father and son who accidentally swap bodies after a foolishly casual wish made in the presence of a magical Indian artefact! Written and directed by filmmaker, wit and raconteur Peter Ustinov, ‘VICE VERSA’ is featured here as a brand-new High Definition remaster from original film elements in its original theatrical 1.37:1 aspect ratio.
During a heart-to-heart with his son, pompous businessman Paul Bultitude envies his schoolboy son Dick's youth, while Dick wishes he were grown up. They both get what they wish for when, magically, the son becomes the father (and vice versa) – a situation that soon causes consternation and uproar!
FILM FACT: ‘VICE VERSA’ was first trade-shown in January 1948 at 111 minutes but, prior to its general release two months later, it had been cut back to 102 minutes. All of the master materials, including the original negatives, all run to the 102 minutes length and the longer edit is presumed lost. At the time of its release, the critic for Daily Mirror wrote: “Peter Ustinov has deliberately exaggerated in the film. This may bring him into conflict with lovers of the original story. But the fact remains that this spectacular burlesque has many novel touches and gets the laughs. Personally, I enjoyed myself, and I think you will.” Monthly Film Bulletin said: “It is funny in patches, but goes on far too long; and the director, who also wrote the screenplay, would have been wiser to cut some of his own additions [to the book]. Anthony Newley . . . is excellent in a long and exacting part, and Petula Clark is attractive as the headmaster's daughter, but it is sad to see as good an actor as Roger Livesey with nothing to do but make an ass of himself.” In later years, Leonard Maltin observed that “parts of it are silly, but much of it is inspired and hilarious.”
Cast: Roger Livesey, Kay Walsh, Petula Clark, David Hutcheson, Anthony Newley, James Robertson Justice, Patricia Raine, Joan Young, Vida Hope, Vi Kaley, Ernest Jay, Kynaston Reeves, Harcourt Williams, Bill Shine, Andrew Blackett, John Willoughby, Stanley Van Beers, Robert Eddison, James Hayter, Alfie Bass, Hugh Dempster, Peter Jones, James Kenney, Michael McKeag, Timothy Bateson, Donald Barclay, John Glyn-Jones, Frank Tickle, Wallace Bosco (uncredited), Michael Cacoyannis (uncredited), John Forrest (uncredited), John Martell (uncredited), Jack May (uncredited), Gordon Phillott (uncredited), Anton Rodgers (uncredited), Cyril Smith (uncredited), Malcolm Sommers (uncredited) and Ian Wilson (uncredited)
Director: Peter Ustinov
Producers: George H. Brown, Paul Sheriff and Peter Ustinov
Screenplay: Peter Ustinov and Thomas Anstey Guthrie (novel)
Composer: Antony Hopkins
Make-up Department: Geoffrey Rodway (Make-up and Facial Make-believe) and Vivienne Walker (Hair stylist)
Costume Design: Nadia Benois
Cinematography: Jack Hildyard B.S.C. (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
Subtitles: English
Running Time: 102 minutes
Region: Region B/2
Number of discs: 1
Studio: J. Arthur Rank / Two Cities Films / General Film Distributors Ltd. / Network
Andrew’s Blu-ray Review: ‘VICE VERSA’ [1948] is a comedy feature that was written and directed by acclaimed actor and film-maker Peter Ustinov when he was aged just 26, adapted from Thomas Anstey Guthrie 1882 novel of the same name.
‘VICE VERSA’ is the third screen adaption of the 1882 novel “Vice Versa” by F. Anstey. Adapted and directed by Peter Ustinov who shows off his eloquence in this script, as the talent get their teeth into this comedy.
It is 1916 and Dick Bultitude [Anthony Newley], has just married his childhood sweetheart Dulcie Grimstone [Petula Clark], and Paul Bultitude [Roger Livesey], is just seeing off the last of the guests as he stands in his doorway. Paul Bultitude’s butler Bowler [Ernest Jay] spots the camera and Paul Bultitude turns and addresses us as if we are reporters, he starts to tell his embarrassing story that he has kept quiet for twenty years. So now let the story begin.
Our story starts with Paul Bultitude’s brother-in-law Marmaduke Paradine [David Hutcheson], who is a total cad of the highest order, a man wanted all across the Western hemisphere, and that is why he is in India claiming to be the Honourable Louis Montfalcon. Marmaduke Paradine is at the Temple of the laughing Hyena along with his friend Col. Ambrosen [Hugh Dempster] and the driver of their elephant Bindabun Doss [John Glyn-Jones]. They are in India to shoot a tiger, but when Louis hears that the idol’s right eye is worth a fortune, Louis decides to relieve the idol of its eye. As he does the left eye winks, thus cursing the thief with bad luck.
Marmaduke Paradine soon realises that hyena’s, even if not worth worshipping, were worth total respect. Ambrose and Louis find their first bit of bad luck as their transport has departed, and they must walk back to the village. Ambrose is not going to make it back to the village as a tiger roars.
Marmaduke Paradine makes it back to the United Kingdom, and manages to avoid the authorities, and by luck would have it Bowler doesn’t recognize him as he waits in Paul Bultitude’s study because he has the eye, “The Garuda Stone” and he must pass it on to rid himself of this run of bad luck.
At this time, the young Dick Bultitude [Roger Livesey] is about to go back to school run by the force of nature Dr. Grimstone [James Robertson Justice], who believes Dick Bultitude is a malcontent, and he is not wrong as when he stands holding “The Garuda Stone” he wishes that he was older, and have all the privileges that go with maturity.
Now let the hilarity begin, as Dick Bultitude turns into his father and Vice Versa. The pompous Paul must go to school while Dick Bultitude fancies the maid Alice [Patricia Raine], whilst trying to stave off the advances of con woman Florence “Fanny” Verlane [Kay Walsh], a woman Marmaduke Paradine knows very well.
Dr. Grimstone plays the cruel headmaster, while his daughter Dulcie Grimstone, the love interest of Dick Bultitude. Dick Bultitude’s schoolmates react as only children can when they find “Dick Bultitude” has returned from the holidays as a squealer and goody-two-shoes. While in London, “Paul Bultitude” has the servants baffled as he turns childish, gives children’s parties, flirts with the maid Alice, defers the advances from his father’s unethical lady friend Mrs Verlayne, and goes into the car factory business with his recreant Uncle Marmaduke. Things end well when they are able in the end to get the stolen temple jewel to change things back to normal and reflect how the switcheroo was a really worthwhile eye-opening life changing experience.
‘VICE VERSA’ for the most part is good, clean, wholesome fun; it does start to get a bit dicey in the opening scenes, when we see the theft of the stone from the Indian idol. Let’s just say that time has not been kind to the depiction of the various citizens of the subcontinent, which seems cringe worthy to say the least, as it has a strong air of “prevailing attitudes.” Luckily, this awkwardness passes quickly, and you can then just sit back and enjoy the rest of the film. ‘VICE VERSA’ is certainly a good jolly fun little romp, and this release by Network does the film and especially Anthony Newley very proud.
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Blu-ray Image Quality – J. Arthur Rank, Two Cities Films, General Film Distributors Ltd. and Network presents us the film ‘VICE VERSA’ in a wonderful Black-and-White 1080p image and we have been informed that film has been newly scanned in High Definition from a 35mm dupe negative in its original theatrical 1.37:1 aspect ratio. Although the restoration involved both automated and manual removal of dirt and damage, some minor faults remain including density fluctuations, dirt and scratches amongst other issues. 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 – J. Arthur Rank / Two Cities Films / General Film Distributors Ltd. / Network brings us the film ‘VICE VERSA’ with a very enjoyable 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio audio experience. Dialogue and effects are rendered cleanly and clearly, and the wonderfully atmospheric composed score by Antony Hopkins sounds really excellent, especially in some of the more really dramatic moments in the film, as well as the more comical moments in the film and so all in all it is a terrific audio performance, especially for a film made in 1948.
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Blu-ray Special Features and Extras:
Special Feature: Image Gallery: With this featurette, we get to view 30 wonderful 1080p colour and black-and-white images related to all aspect of the 1948 ‘VICE VERSA’ film. Running Time: 1:25
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Special Feature: The Strange World of Gurney Slade – Episode One [1960] [1080p] [1.37:1] [24:54] With this featurette, we have something that was brilliantly inventive, startling surreal and unlike anything previously seen on British television. “The Strange World of Gurney Slade” stars Anthony Newley as Gurney Slade who walks off the studio set of a banal sit-com and into a fantasy world of his own imagination in this surreal odyssey through one man’s personal alternative reality. An unpredictable, absurdist fantasy, and the series was created by Anthony Newley and written by comedy legends Sid Green and Dick Hills who soon became writers for Morecambe and Wise. It was broadcast on the 22nd October, 1960. It was an ATV Production.
Cast: Anthony Newley, Dilys Laye, William Kendall, Una Stubbs, Vi Stevens, Bernard Spear, Edna Petrie, Rose Alba, Keith Smith, Geoffrey Palmer, Derek Tansley, Lindsay Scott-Patton, Norman Pitt, John Dunbar, Gaynor Jones, Audrey O'Flynn, Kenneth Cowan, George McGrath and “Rags” [the dog]
Director: Alan Tarrant
Producer: Alan Tarrant
Screenplay: Dick Hills. Sidney Green and Anthony Newley (deviser)
Composer: Max Harris
Music Department: Jack Parnell (Conductor)
Cinematography: Donald Long (Director of Photography)
Image Resolution: 1080p (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
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Special Feature: Val Parnell’s Saturday Spectacular: The Anthony Newley Variety Show [1960] [480i / 1080i] [1.37:1] [48:17] With this featurette, we have an ATV’s regular light entertainment special and featuring a rotating headline act, and with this edition it is showcasing Anthony Newley in one of several similar shows that Anthony Newley would make over the years. Guest-starring April Olrich, Lionel Blair, Richard Hills, Gordon Heath, Janette Scott, Sidney Green and Peter Sellers. This classic comedy-music special also features Lionel Blair and his Dancers, also with The Michael Sammes Singers and Jack Parnell and His Orchestra. This particular broadcast was shown on the 30th January, 1960. It was an ATV Production.
Producer: Albert Locke
Script: Dick Hills and Sidney Green
Composer: Max Harris
Music Department: Jack Parnell (Conductor)
Image Resolution: 480i / 1080i (Black-and-White)
Aspect Ratio: 1.37:1
Audio: English: 2.0 LPCM Stereo Audio
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Special Feature: Associated British Cinemas Film Trailer Presentation: With this featurette, Associated British Cinemas presents their next two film presentations and they are as follows:
‘The Dancing Years’ [Musical/Drama] [1950] [1080p] [1.37:1] and ‘Black Narcissus’ [1947] [1080p] [1.37:1] [5:34]
BONUS: Limited Edition 12 page booklet by Neil Sinyard’s VIEWING NOTES that also includes LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON Peter Ustinov’s ‘VICE VERSA’ [1948] that outlines the synopsis of the film. Plus other colour items related to the film.
Finally, ‘VICE VERSA’ [1948] is really great to see these classic films restored on Blu-ray, and is a great vehicle for the English language, as Peter Ustinov was a logophile, which translate as “a lover of words,” and James Robertson Justice knew how to deliver them. It is great family fun and it’s certainly an old fashioned style of British comedy film, but at the same time has a very sophisticated feel to it and especially having a screenplay written by Peter Ustinov. The film is full of audacious set pieces that send up the very concept of Britishness and propriety. Its charm is of course untranslatable in any other language and there is no film quite like Peter Ustinov's ‘VICE VERSA.’ Everyone in it shines and makes the dialogue sound like it was written by Oscar Wilde on marijuana. Even little Petula Clark bravely holds her own opposite Anthony Newley, Roger Livesey and James Robertson Justice, whose blustering personality makes this film a true comedy of hypocrisies. The film is full of audacious set pieces that send up the very concept of Britishness and propriety. Its charm is of course untranslatable in any other language. As a screenwriter and filmmaker of intelligence and invention, Peter Ustinov shows he is easily the equal of René Clair and Sacha Guitry. Highly Recommended!
Andrew C. Miller – Your Ultimate No.1 Film Aficionado
Le Cinema Paradiso
United Kingdom
