Laughter in Paradise (1951)

When a millionaire practical joker dies, he divides his fortune among four heirs who must carry out his zany instructions to cash in.

Director:

Mario Zampi

Writers:

Michael Pertwee (original story), Jack Davies (original story)

Stars:

Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, Guy Middleton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Alastair Sim	...	Deniston Russell
Fay Compton	...	Agnes Russell
Guy Middleton	...	Simon Russell
George Cole	...	Herbert Russell
Hugh Griffith	...	Henry Augustus Russell
Ernest Thesiger	...	Endicott
Beatrice Campbell	...	Lucille Grayson
Mackenzie Ward	...	Benson
A.E. Matthews	...	Sir Charles Robson
Joyce Grenfell	...	Elizabeth Robson aka Fluffy
Eleanor Summerfield	...	Sheila Wilcott
John Laurie	...	Gordon Webb
Veronica Hurst	...	Joan Webb
Anthony Steel	...	Roger Godfrey
Charlotte Mitchell	...	Ethel

Storyline

Famed practical joker Henry Russell leaves 50,000 pounds to each of his four surviving relatives. But his will has one last joke - they each have to undertake a task completely out of character within a month. As each sets out on their objective they find that quite apart from the promised riches, they are unexpectedly getting a lot out of the challenge. All except caddish Simon Russell, that is.

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Plot Keywords:

inheritance challenge | inheritance | meanness | practical joker | out of character | 

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Taglines:

He sets the whole world laughing ... there's even Laughter in Paradise !

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 November 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Gelächter im Paradies

Filming Locations:

Associated British Studios, Elstree, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Mario Zampi Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Arthur Howard was first booked to play the jeweler's assistant but William Murray replaced him, and Howard was cast as a man on the train instead.

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Goofs

When Deniston Russell visits the police station for the second time, he addresses the officer on duty as Inspector. However, the man has three arrow-shaped stripes on his shoulder, which clearly marks him as a Sergeant. Even if he didn't know the difference, one would expect the police officer to correct him.

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Quotes

Deniston Russell: I couldn't possibly burgle somebody I didn't know.

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Connections

Referenced in The Spirit of Christmas Past: George Cole Remembers Alastair Sim (2005)

User Reviews

The beauty of the film is in the triumph of the Will

I first saw this as a youngster and liked it, but over the years it's really grown on me until now I regard it as a minor classic. The main characters were all played excellently, with many lesser characters also played memorably.

Practical joker Hugh Griffiths dies and leaves GBP 50,000 to each of his four living relatives if they complete various silly but onerous tasks within one month of his death. Pulp writer Alistair Sim, snobby Fay Compton, womaniser Guy Middleton and timid George Cole are all faced with problems that are against their natures, and their attempts to succeed ultimately result in a worthy moral and laughter on Earth. Cole's "juvenile" sections used to irritate me when younger but there's plenty else to savour, especially the incomparable Sim as a determined shoplifter, Compton as a harassed skivvy and Middleton as a hornswoggled suitor. As icing on the cake there's also fluffy Joyce Grenfell, scathing John Laurie, suave Anthony Steel, jolly Ernest Thesiger, and many other old friends – even the forever bald Noel Howlett and a young Audrey Hepburn. The direction and production values were top notch too; the sets were so beautifully wooden, the acting certainly was not.

It's flimsy yet logical, life-affirming and recommended – stay with it to the end to have the last laugh.