Big Time Operators (1957) The Smallest Show on Earth (original title)

Director:

Basil Dearden

Writers:

William Rose (screenplay)
John Eldridge (screenplay)

Release Date:

16 March 1962 (Finland)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A young couple inherits a debt-ridden old movie theater, appropriately nicknamed "The Flea Pit," and the three eccentric senior citizens who work there.

Plot Keywords:

Cinema | Seniors | Movie Theater | Theater | Novelist

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award.

Cast

Virginia McKenna	...	Jean Spenser
Bill Travers	...	Matt Spenser
Margaret Rutherford	...	Mrs. Fazackalee
Peter Sellers	...	Percy Quill
Bernard Miles	...	Old Tom
Francis De Wolff	...	Albert Hardcastle
Leslie Phillips	...	Robin Carter
June Cunningham	...	Marlene Hogg
Sid James	...	Mr. Hogg (as Sidney James)
George Cross	...	Commissionaire
George Cormack	...	Bell
Stringer Davis	...	Emmett
Michael Corcoran	...	Taxi Driver
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Bush	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
Marian Collins	...	Ice-Cream Girl (uncredited)
Liz Fraser	...	Girl in Cinema (uncredited)
Frazer Hines	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
Billy Lawrence	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
John Pike	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
Lynne Roberts	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
Michael Scoble	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
Leslie Slysz	...	Cast Member (uncredited)
The Blake Twins	...	Cast Members (uncredited)

Directed by
Basil Dearden

Writing credits
William Rose		(screenplay & original story)
John Eldridge		(screenplay)

Produced by
Leslie Gilliat	....	associate producer
Michael Relph	....	producer
Sidney Gilliat	....	executive producer (uncredited)
Frank Launder	....	executive producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
William Alwyn

Cinematography by
Douglas Slocombe

Film Editing by
Oswald Hafenrichter

Art Direction by
Allan Harris

Costume Design by
Anthony Mendleson

Makeup Department
Hilda Fox	....	hair stylist
Harry Frampton	....	makeup artist

Production Management
John Pellatt	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Eddie Pike	....	assistant director
John Meadows	....	second assistant director (uncredited)
Claude Watson	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
John Earl	....	draughtsman (uncredited)
Roy Walker	....	draughtsman (uncredited)

Sound Department
Buster Ambler	....	sound recordist
Arthur Cox	....	dubbing editor
John Cox	....	sound supervisor
Bob Jones	....	sound recordist
Ken Ritchie	....	boom operator (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Bob Cuff	....	special effects (as R. Cuff)
Wally Veevers	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
George Samuels	....	special processes (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Jeff Seaholme	....	camera operator
Paddy Aherne	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Ron Drinkwater	....	focus puller (uncredited)
Norman Hargood	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Guy Ambler	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Alan Corder	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Eileen Daines	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)
Alban Streeter	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Jane Buck	....	continuity
Sidney Gilliat	....	presenter
Frank Launder	....	presenter

Production Companies

• Hallmark Productions

Distributors

• British Lion Film Corporation (1957) (UK) (theatrical)
• Times Film Corporation (1957) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Alpha Video Distributors (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Victoria Films (????) (USA) (theatrical)
• Mill Creek Entertainment (????) (USA) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2010) (Australia) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"The Smallest Show on Earth" - UK (original title)

Runtime:

80 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Finland:S | UK:U | Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Christchurch Avenue, London, England, UK

Company:

Hallmark Productions

Trivia:

The films shown at the Bijou (all fictional and presumably filmed just for this movie) are: - Killer Riders of Wyoming - The Mystery of Hell Valley - Devil Riders of Parched Point

Goofs:

Continuity: When Carter is told by the Spensers "We've seen the cinema", his glasses shift from his face to his hand in consecutive shots.

Quotes:

Hardcastle:A nice young couple like yourself, you've no business in this business. If you'd seen your great uncle what it did for him in the end! That old battle-ax Mrs. Fazackalee! I remember when she was a wee slip of a thing, pretty as a picture - a "B" picture, mind yuh!
[laughs]

Movie Connections:

Features Comin' Thro the Rye (1923)

A must-see film for those who love film.

Who hasn't seen a forlorn, forgotten little neighborhood theatre and fantasized about reopening it, and making it work? For Jean and Matt, though, who have no options after starting over in a strange city, it becomes a necessity. The hopeless crusade becomes the kind of poignant-yet-hilarious stuff that makes for an unforgettable film. Margaret Rutherford, Peter Sellers and Bernard Miles, as the former staff members recalled from retirement, have a magical scene together in the Bijou's darkened auditorium one night after closing time, recalling the old days with a silent film and the disused piano. Great stuff. I only wish the film was longer.