Laughter in Paradise (1951)

Screenright Michael Pertwee and helmer Mario Zampi had two bites at the cherry some six years apart and now Talking Pictures have acquired both Laughter In Paradise (1951) and The Naked Truth (1957) and screen both every few weeks. What emerges from this is that Laughter In Paradise retains all its freshness and stands up far better than The Naked Truth (which, nevertheless) is still well worth seeing. As pedants have pointed out here on imdb the plot does nod to Brewster's Millions but if anyone DOES find something new under the sun perhaps they'd be kind enough to share it. The premise is both simple and effective and actually plays fair with the audience inasmuch as Hugh Griffith is identified as a celebrated practical joker from moment one so we shouldn't be surprised when - after bequeathing £50,000 each to four relatives on condition that each performs a bizarre task well out of his or her comfort zone, and they comply - he turns out to have spent the money before he died. The fun, of course, is watching how the legatees deal with the terms of the will. Well written, cast and directed there is still lots of pleasure to be extracted sixty-odd years later.

This classic of comedy and drama stars Alastair Sim, the peerless character comedian, and Fay Compton, a versatile stage actor of considerable range. The Laughter coming from Paradise emanates from a recently deceased eccentric (madcap Hugh Griffith) who follows the efforts of his four competitive heirs, for all of whom he has set different but embarrassing tasks to perform to qualify for an inheritance. Alastair Sim and Fay Compton have the choicer roles. Alastair Sim's ludicrous dilemma leads into a bravura comic performance. His bewildered and peeved fiancée is played by the exceptional Joyce Grenfell. Fay Compton's unsympathetic character becomes an occasion for exquisite acting in this film. Young George Cole, one of Mr & Mrs Sim's real-life protégés, handled comedy nearly as deftly as the master, and Cole is still appearing in films 75 years after his celluloid debut. Cole's role as a sincere but insecure lad is the polar opposite of sly and suave Guy Middleton, the fourth of a quartet of prospective heirs. Kudos to supporting players Ernest Thesiger and Eleanor Summerfield. Audrey Hepburn made her English-language movie debut in this film as a cigarette girl in a supper club, and Anthony Steel, on the brink of becoming a star hunk, had a larger and romantic role. Laugher in Paradise defies genre. It offers character studies, by turn hilarious and poignant. An unqualified 10 from this fan

Any film with Alastair Sim is worth watching, but this must rank as one of his best. Here he really displays his comic genius; his scenes can rightly be described as a masterclass in the art of comedy. Not before time, this has now become available on DVD, although, as yet, only part of a box set. Since Alastair Sim appears in the other films offered, this is not a great drawback. The other main characters in the film are also very good, particularly Fay Compton, and the supporting roles are filled well, with the always reliable Joyce Grenfell giving great satisfaction. The plot, too, is a cut above the usual, and it all adds up to a very satisfying experience, and one which I have watched many times, and hopefully will watch many more times.

When well known practical joker and millionaire Henry Russell dies, his surviving relatives are called together for the will reading. The will leaves them each £50K if they can complete set tasks that go against their nature within a set time period. Simmon Russell must marry the first woman he meets after reading the will, Herbert must rob the bank he works at, Agnes must serve as a maid and Deniston must commit a crime and go to jail. As each goes off to try and complete their task they find that money is not all that is to be had in the course of time.I taped this film on the strength of George Cole and Alastair Sim starring in it. The plot is quite clever –like a twist on the old Brewser's Millions tale. In fact it clearly had potential but, after the initial set up the film has little to do. Most of the characters seem to be hanging around waiting for the final third of the film to happen to them and it is a little dry at times. The comedy is OK but rarely hilarious or really clever.The delivery of laughs really comes down to the cast and not so much the material. Cole is quite good and is pitching well with good timing. Sim is the best one of the lot and his scenes tend to be some of the best. Middleton only served to make me think that Terry-Thomas would have been better in the caddish role, while Compton is really used as the moral `life lesson' part of the film.Overall this is an enjoyable film – one that I'm surprised hasn't been remade in some form yet by Hollywood. It could easily be a silly comedy with a B-grade ensemble cast and work well. However this flags at times and isn't as funny as I'd hoped it would be.