The Admirable Crichton (1957)

Director:

Lewis Gilbert

Writers:

J.M. Barrie (play)
Lewis Gilbert (adaptation)

Release Date:

16 December 1957 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

Lord Loam has modern ideas about his household; he believes in treating his servants as his equals - at least sometimes...

Plot Keywords:

Ship Wreck | Remake | Based On Play

Cast

Kenneth More	...	Crichton
Diane Cilento	...	Tweeny
Cecil Parker	...	Lord Loam
Sally Ann Howes	...	Lady Mary
Martita Hunt	...	Lady Brocklehurst
Jack Watling	...	Treherne
Peter Graves	...	Brocklehurst
Gerald Harper	...	Ernest Woolley
Mercy Haystead	...	Lady Catherine
Miranda Connell	...	Lady Agatha
Miles Malleson	...	Vicar
Eddie Byrne	...	Captain
Joan Young	...	Mrs. Perkins
Brenda Hogan	...	Fisher
Peter Welch	...	Rolleston

Also Known As:

Paradise Lagoon (USA)

Runtime:

94 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.96 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

UK:U (original rating) | USA:Approved (PCA #18403) | UK:U (video rating) | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Bermuda

Company:

Modern Screen Play

Quotes:

Lady Brocklehurst: George... Listen when anyone begins to answer with "The fact is... "
Brocklehurst: But why, mother?
Lady Brocklehurst: Because that is, usually, the beginning of a lie.

Movie Connections:

Version of Male and Female (1919)

Attractively done, with humour and social commentary combined.

What a delightful comedy of a type we are not likely to see made today. Although almost 50 years old, it hardly crowds the boundaries of political correctness, certainly does not trample them - not easy to accomplish today.

Crichton, the title and leading character, having achieved the proud position of being an English butler, demonstrates very clearly to us that this is a responsible, demanding post requiring many skills.

This delightful character quickly and confidently moves from a Victorian English, aristocratic home where he comfortably serves the English upper class, to an isolated tropical island where they serve him!

Kenneth More plays this part so well that we never doubt that such a complete reversal of roles would be possible.

Cecil Parker is wonderful as the seemingly ineffective, yet charming aristocrat, "Daddy". He completes the change by becoming a reasonable servant - not quite up to the demands of a butler's position, more like a valet to More's "Gov" (Governor).

Lightly, yet firmly, poking fun at the class system. With a clear message of self-worth deriving from talents, skills and effort, rather than birth.

The colour, humour, and pace of this movie make it one that the whole family can watch and enjoy.