Hattie (2011)

Married comic actors Hattie Jacques and John LeMesurier seem the perfect couple,with their two young sons and the legendary Christmas dinners they host for their friends. However,in 1963,... See full summary »

Director:

Dan Zeff

Writers:

Stephen Russell, Andy Merriman (book)

Stars:

Ruth Jones, Robert Bathurst, Aidan Turner

2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ruth Jones	...	Hattie Jacques
Robert Bathurst	...	John Le Mesurier
Aidan Turner	...	John Schofield
Jeany Spark	...	Joan Malin
Jay Simpson	...	Bruce
Graham Fellows	...	Eric Sykes
Marcia Warren	...	Esma Cannon
Stephen Critchlow	...	Gerald Thomas
Susy Kane	...	Young Actress
Lewis Macleod	...	Eamonn Andrews
Brian Pettifer	...	Ron
James Martin	...	Reg
John Bell	...	Robin Le Mesurier
John Reader	...	Kim Le Mesurier

Storyline

Married comic actors Hattie Jacques and John LeMesurier seem the perfect couple,with their two young sons and the legendary Christmas dinners they host for their friends. However,in 1963,after a charity fund raiser for leukaemia, Hattie meets the young and handsome John Schofield,whose son died of the disease. He tells her that she is lovely and boosts her confidence about her plumpness. When he splits with his wife John LeMesurier suggests he becomes the family's lodger but he becomes Hattie's lover,jealously so,angry that he cannot be part of her 'This Is Your Life' TV tribute.The gentlemanly LeMesurier moves into the spare room,the while remaining good friends with Hattie,who encourages him to date family friend Joan Malin,whom he will eventually marry. To preserve Hattie's public reputation,her husband accepts blame in the divorce court and will remain on good terms with her for the rest of her life. Two years later Schofield deserts Hattie for an Italian heiress. She will never ...

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Plot Keywords:

television actress | husband wife relationship | adulterous wife | forename as title | one word title | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 January 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Slawa Hattie Jacques

Filming Locations:

Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Angel Eye Film & Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min

Color:

Color Black and White

Did You Know?

Goofs

The Ford Cortinas in the Carry on Cabby scenes are the wrong type. In the real film they are Consul Cortinas which have white oval front lights that double as sidelights and (white) indicators, whereas in this reconstruction of the scene the cars are the later post-1964 model which have separate rectangular sidelights and amber indicators, and a different radiator grille.

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Quotes

[Hattie meets John Schofield for the first time when he drives up in a red E-Type Jaguar sports car]
John Schofield: Are you all right here, or do you need to sit in the back like the Queen?
Hattie Jacques: [coyly] I'd need six months' notice to squeeze my behind in there.

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Connections

References This Is Your Life (1955)

User Reviews

First class period drama

There have been a few dramas recently based on the lives of the great British comedians of the 50's and 60's and Hattie is one of the best I've seen.

The acting is first rate, especially from the three principals. The period setting is well captured in the interior scenes - there are very few exterior shots, probably due to the budget. Another reviewer makes much of Hattie being a chubby lady but she was undoubtedly sexy and more so in real life than for the characters she played on screen. This is something else the film conveys very well.

The script is excellent - the real stand-out feature of the production. It's multi-layered and pays homage to the Carry On style of double entendre and elevates it to a much higher level. "Hattie" avoids being seedy but doesn't shy away from the details of this most unusual love story. Poor old John Le Mesurier! I'm off to form his appreciation society.