Panic in the Parlor (1956)
"Sailor Beware" (original title)

Battle-axe Emma Hornett dominates her hen-pecked husband Henry, his meek sister Edie and daughter Shirley. Shirley is to marry young sailor Albert,raised in an orphanage,and he and best man... See full summary »

Director:

Gordon Parry

Writers:

Falkland L. Cary (screenplay), Falkland L. Cary (stage play "Sailor Beware"),

Stars:

Peggy Mount, Shirley Eaton, Ronald Lewis

Cast

Cast overview:
Peggy Mount	...	Emma Hornett
Shirley Eaton	...	Shirley Hornett
Ronald Lewis	...	Albert Tufnell
Cyril Smith	...	Henry Hornett
Esma Cannon	...	Edie Hornett
Gordon Jackson	...	Carnoustie Bligh
Geoffrey Keen	...	Rev. Mr. Purefoy
Joy Webster	...	Daphne Pink
Thora Hird	...	Mrs. Lack
Eliot Makeham	...	Uncle Brummell
Fred Griffiths	...	Taxi Driver
Edie Martin	...	Little Woman in Church
Margaret Moore	...	Little Girl
Barbara Hicks	...	Little Girl's Mother
George Rose	...	Waiter at Banfield's

Storyline

Battle-axe Emma Hornett dominates her hen-pecked husband Henry, his meek sister Edie and daughter Shirley. Shirley is to marry young sailor Albert,raised in an orphanage,and he and best man Carnoustie stay with the Hornetts on the eve of the wedding, though Emma makes sure the stag night is a brief one. Next day Albert fails to show up for the wedding. He eventually turns up at the house and confides in the vicar that if family life is anything like the Hornetts he wants no part of it. When the Hornetts are told this Emma declares that she sees that has been a "very wicked woman" and will mend her ways but, as the young couple eventually marry and move into their own house , one wonders how long her change of heart will last.

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Plot Keywords:

best man | sailor | two word title | shore leave | british navy | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Panic in the Parlor

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Remus, Romulus Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

81 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

First full length feature film of Peggy Mount.

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Quotes

Henry Hornett: [hearing Emma sob from behind the door] Has she been listining! Let me get out of here while I'm still alive!

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Connections

Version of Seemann, gib' acht! (1997)

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Soundtracks

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring"
(uncredited)
Music by Johann Sebastian Bach
Arranged by Lambert Williamson

User Reviews

Peggy Mount at her very best!

In contrast to the previous commentator, I found this film delightful from beginning to end. A splendid fast and furious script with some rare tear-jerking comedy from excellent performances all-round. This really had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next farce. A simple straightforward domestic story line of newlyweds and a sailors life with mother-in-law Peggy Mount, most definitely at her best in this rare and not to be missed 50's classic. The foreseeable doom of marrying the daughter of a notorious battle axe and living next door becomes all too much for the young sailor who accompanied by his "best man" friend try to tackle ever more confusing situations. This is a film that in its own way describes the foibles of everyday 1950's life. See it if you get a chance as its rarely screened.