Vice Versa (1948)

Businessman Paul Bultitude is sending his son Dick to a boarding school. While holding a magic stone from India, he wishes that he could be young again. His wish is immediately fulfilled ... See full summary »

Director:

Peter Ustinov

Writers:

F. Anstey (novel), Peter Ustinov

Stars:

Roger Livesey, Kay Walsh, Petula Clark

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Roger Livesey	...	Paul Bultitude
Kay Walsh	...	Florence 'Fanny' Verlane
Petula Clark	...	Dulcie Grimstone
David Hutcheson	...	Marmaduke Paradine
Anthony Newley	...	Dick Bultitude
James Robertson Justice	...	Dr. Grimstone
Patricia Raine	...	Alice
Joan Young	...	Mrs. Grimstone
Vida Hope	...	1st Nanny
Vi Kaley	...	2nd Nanny
Ernest Jay	...	Bowler
Kynaston Reeves	...	Dr. Chawner
Harcourt Williams	...	Judge
Bill Shine	...	Lord Gosport
Andrew Blackett	...	Duke of Margate

Storyline

Businessman Paul Bultitude is sending his son Dick to a boarding school. While holding a magic stone from India, he wishes that he could be young again. His wish is immediately fulfilled and the two change bodies with each other. Mr Bultitude becomes a school boy who smokes cigars and has a very conservative view on child upbringing, while his son Dick becomes a gentleman who spends his time drinking lemonade and arranging children's parties.

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Plot Keywords:

wish | body swap | child as adult | role reversal | based on novel

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1948 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Denham Studios, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

George H. Brown Productions, Two Cities Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First lull length feature of Anthony Newley.

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Crazy Credits

Art Director and Architect Extraordinary: Mlle. Carmen Dillon

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Connections

Remade as Vice Versa (1988)

User Reviews

Funny in rare moments

The unscrupulous Marmaduke (David Hutcheson) gives a stolen jewelled eye to Paul (Roger Livesey) as a gift. Paul summons his son, Dickie (Anthony Newley) for a chat before he is sent off to his new term at boarding school. However, the jewel has the power to allow a wish to come true for whoever holds it. Unwittingly, the stuffy Paul wishes to be young again and in turn, the mischievous Dickie wishes to be older. The rest of the film follows the antics of the now mature Dickie at school and the now immature Paul at home before they swap back at the end of the film and everything that has gone wrong becomes resolved. There is even a nice romantic surprise for Paul at the end.......

What sounds like a fun film is badly let down by OTT British silliness. While there are some funny moments, the truth is that there are far more unfunny moments that leave the viewer thinking "This is tedious". A case in question involves a long, drawn-out duel sequence combined with a court scene that lasts about half an hour and isn't at all funny. Not once did I laugh at the tiresome antics that were played out infront of me. My girlfriend fell asleep during this part after the film had shown early flashes of promise. This meant that she missed the film's only other funny moment after that, namely, when Dickie is travelling back on the train smoking a cigar and throws over some matches to a fellow passenger who asks for a light. The film needed far more of this kind of humour to make it good.

The main characters do well despite the silly script and the silly manner in which the story is sometimes acted. What a shame that the film is more boring than funny.