The Remarkable Mr. Kipps (1941)
"Kipps" (original title)

Kipps the draper's apprentice falls in love with a girl above his station. When he unexpectedly inherits a fortune, he thinks his dream has come true. But money can't make him a gentleman, or bring him the girl he really wants...

Director:

Carol Reed

Writers:

H.G. Wells (famous novel), Sidney Gilliat (screenplay),

Stars:

Philip Frost, Michael Redgrave, Diana Wynyard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Frost	...	Kipps - as a boy
Michael Redgrave	...	Kipps - as a man
Diana Wynyard	...	Helen Walshingham
Diana Calderwood	...	Ann Pornick - as a girl (as Diana Caldewood)
Phyllis Calvert	...	Ann Pornick - as a woman
Arthur Riscoe	...	Chillerlow
Max Adrian	...	Chester Coote
Helen Haye	...	Mrs. Walshingham
Michael Wilding	...	Ronnie Walshingham
Lloyd Pearson	...	Shalford
Edward Rigby	...	Buggins
Mackenzie Ward	...	Pearce
Hermione Baddeley	...	Miss Mergle
Betty Ann Davies	...	Flo Bates
Arthur Denton	...	Carshot

Storyline

Kipps the draper's apprentice falls in love with a girl above his station. When he unexpectedly inherits a fortune, he thinks his dream has come true. But money can't make him a gentleman, or bring him the girl he really wants...

---

Plot Keywords:

social commentary | fictional biography | comedy of manners | rags to riches | social climber | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 June 1941 (UK)

Also Known As:

The Remarkable Mr. Kipps

Filming Locations:

Gaumont-British Studios, Lime Grove, Shepherd's Bush, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century-Fox Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (British Acoustic Film Full - Range Recording) Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Irene Handl is often wrongly credited with being in this film.

---

Connections

Version of Kipps (1960)

User Reviews

"You won't be happy if you marry outside your class"

Kipps (an excellently cast and believable 'nice' guy Michael Redgrave) gets told the above at the beginning - and says it to himself at the end of this film. It gives an example of the era and mindset of this quaint period fable.

From a novel by (a less than usual subject normally associated with) H G Wells, this enchanting piece of sub Dickensian clash-of-the-classes is rich in period detail, is at times witty but generally unenthralling fluff. Interestingly, directed by one Carol Reed, only 8 years before his mega-classic The Third Man, Kipps looks twenty years older in style

• and quality, than his later classic. Whether that was budgetary, or

intentional or simply lacking the brilliant cinematography of Robert Krasker, it shows to the point of being almost incomparable.

Kripps is a dreamy draper in Edwardian England, who believes he has a higher calling in life and through an assorted set of not very adventurous jobs and relationships he attempts to better himself, but finds he cannot.

The UK release is too long and the US version at under 90mins might find more favour. As a rainy afternoon time-waster with lashings of nostalgia it does hit the spot, though. As in a cosy, fireside scene, it's a comfortable fable like 'hot buttered muffins and tea'.

Remade as Half a Sixpence, it probably did need the extra music and dance (and Technicolour) to make it sparkle and have a wider public appeal.