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.

---

Plot Keywords:

practical joker | out of character | relative | instruction | millionaire | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

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

John Laurie replaced Stanley Holloway.

---

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.

---

Quotes

Simon Russell: Now this is a very important date, so pass the word around for the girls that i'm not on "hello" terms for tonight.

---

Connections

Remade as Some Will, Some Won't (1970)

User Reviews

One of the Great Sim's great roles--and a fine film to boot

This classic of comedy and drama stars Alastair Sim, the peerless character comedian, and Fay Compton, a versatile stage actor of considerable range. The Laughter coming from Paradise emanates from a recently deceased eccentric (madcap Hugh Griffith) who follows the efforts of his four competitive heirs, for all of whom he has set different but embarrassing tasks to perform to qualify for an inheritance. Alastair Sim and Fay Compton have the choicer roles. Alastair Sim's ludicrous dilemma leads into a bravura comic performance. His bewildered and peeved fiancée is played by the exceptional Joyce Grenfell. Fay Compton's unsympathetic character becomes an occasion for exquisite acting in this film. Young George Cole, one of Mr & Mrs Sim's real-life protégés, handled comedy nearly as deftly as the master, and Cole is still appearing in films 75 years after his celluloid debut. Cole's role as a sincere but insecure lad is the polar opposite of sly and suave Guy Middleton, the fourth of a quartet of prospective heirs. Kudos to supporting players Ernest Thesiger and Eleanor Summerfield. Audrey Hepburn made her English-language movie debut in this film as a cigarette girl in a supper club, and Anthony Steel, on the brink of becoming a star hunk, had a larger and romantic role. Laugher in Paradise defies genre. It offers character studies, by turn hilarious and poignant. An unqualified 10 from this fan