Penny Princess (1952)

A ordinary young American woman learns that she has become the owner of a tiny European country. Comedy and romance ensue.

Director:

Val Guest

Writer:

Val Guest

Stars:

Yolande Donlan, Dirk Bogarde, A.E. Matthews

Cast

Cast overview:
Yolande Donlan	...	Lindy Smith
Dirk Bogarde	...	Tony Craig
A.E. Matthews	...	Selby
Reginald Beckwith	...	Minister of Finance - Blacksmith
Mary Clare	...	Maria
Edwin Styles	...	Chancellor - Cobbler
Kynaston Reeves	...	Burgomaster - Policeman
Desmond Walter-Ellis	...	Alberto - Captain of the guard
Peter Butterworth	...	Julien / Postman / Farmer

Storyline

A tiny European country which for years has survived financially only through evading its bills and smuggling is finally facing bankruptcy, when a rich American agrees to save the place by buying it. But before, the deal is closed, he dies. His nearest relative and heir turns out to be a young woman with high ethical and democratic standards, but no experience with money, or affairs of state, or Europe. A charming young English visitor helps her to muddle through. Comedy and romance follow.

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Plot Keywords:

smuggling | europe | department store salesgirl | song | mountain climbing | 

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Taglines:

Once upon a time...there was a salesgirl Ciderella who woke up one morning with a kingdom on her hands, a "king" in her arms...and a carload of schneeze(?) (original USA poster)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1953 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Schmugglerprinzessin

Company Credits

Production Co:

Conquest Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Chancellor - Cobbler: Yesterday we received an offer from the Armenian syndicate, who wish to buy the country and turn this place into a gambling hell...
[looks at it again]
Chancellor - Cobbler: ... a gambling HALL.

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Crazy Credits

The producers wish to thank the citizens of Lampidorra for not speaking Lampidorran -- thus saving the expense of English sub-titles.

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Soundtracks

"The Stars and Stripes Forever"
(uncredited)
Music by John Philip Sousa

User Reviews

The wonders of Schneese

In this haphazard Technicolor fantasy, a ditzy but dauntless young American woman becomes the heir to the throne of a tiny, insolvent European country named Lampidorra. The bumbling representative of a British cheese company convinces her that the answer to Lampidorra's problem lies in its principal product: schneese, which is cheese crossbred with schnapps. "Penny Princess" is essentially an operetta without the singing. It's all very silly, the satire is heavy-handed, and the leading lady is a bit of a pill, but it's a harmless way to spend an hour and a half. Val Guest, who wrote and directed the film, would go on to better things, particularly in the field of science fiction. He also married the leading lady.