Village of Daughters (1962)

Director:

George Pollock

Writers:

David Pursall (story), David Pursall (original screenplay)

Stars:

Eric Sykes, Scilla Gabel, Grégoire Aslan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eric Sykes	...	Herbert Harris
Scilla Gabel	...	Angelina Vimereati
Grégoire Aslan	...	Gastoni (A Father) (as Gregoire Aslan)
Yvonne Romain	...	Annunziata (A Daughter)
John Le Mesurier	...	Don Calogere
Eric Pohlmann	...	Marcio (A Father)
Warren Mitchell	...	Puccelli (A Father)
Ina De La Haye	...	Maria Gastoni (A Mother)
Peter Illing	...	Alfredo Predati
Graham Stark	...	Postman
Jill Carson	...	Lucia Puccelli (A Daughter)
Monte Landis	...	Faccino (as Monty Landis)
Talitha Pol	...	Gioia Spartaco (A Daughter)
Edwin Richfield	...	Balbino (A Father)
Anthony Morton	...	Spartaco (A Father)

Storyline

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 January 1963 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

A Cidade das Mil Noivas

Filming Locations:

MGM British Studios, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

George H. Brown Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer British Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Village of Daughters"
Music by Ron Goodwin
Lyrics by Norman Newell

User Reviews

Pleasant Ealing-style comedy filmed in Sicily

This fairly enjoyable little comedy was part of a batch of British films made by MGM-Elstree studios in England, some of which made it to the United States and some, like this one, that did not. The Director/producer/writers involved here were the same group that made the highly successful Agatha Christie adaptation 'Murder She Said' with Margaret Rutherford the year previously (1961).

As for this film, it has an Ealing Studio flavor to a degree, but is unlike most other British comedies of the period because it keeps itself stationed in Sicily throughout (the exception being the opening montage in London). Eric Sykes plays the low-rent English salesman who takes a trip to Sicily and ends up getting mixed up in a virtual contest to pick the bride of an expatriate member of an old family of the area who is coming back to marry and willing to lay down some nice money for the family of the bride. Veteran English comic actor John LeMesurier plays the local priest (the Don) who convinces the local patriarchs to let the first stranger who comes to town be the one who decides which of their daughters is chosen. Enter Sykes. But not only does Sykes have to contend with the conniving local families, he also ends up getting mixed up with the town firebrand Scilla Gabel. Then there is the classic Sicilian vendetta obsession that rears up toward the finish, putting Sykes in further hot water. It's all good-natured fun, not particularly clever, but glides along smoothly. Certainly the feminine pulchritude on display is impressive---virtually a satire of buxom Italian peasant girls that populated that country's films throughout the fifties. Gabel and Yvonne Romain are the two main females on display and they are an undeniable eyeful. This film is no great shakes, and not comparable to the Rutherford-Agatha Christie movies the filmmakers were involved in, but it breezes by with its light charm.