It's Never Too Late (1956 film)
It's Never Too Late is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Phyllis Calvert, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen and Guy Rolfe.[2] It was based on a 1952 play of the same name by Felicity Douglas.[3]
It's Never Too Late | |
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Directed by | Michael McCarthy |
Produced by | George Pitcher Jules Simmons |
Written by | Edward Dryhurst |
Based on | play It's Never Too Late by Felicity Douglas |
Starring | Phyllis Calvert Patrick Barr Susan Stephen Guy Rolfe |
Music by | Wally Stott Louis Levy |
Cinematography | C.M. Pennington-Richards |
Edited by | Charles Hasse |
Production company | Park Lane Films |
Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 96 mins. |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | £128,208[1] |
Plot
Feeling her combative family has long taken her for granted, genteel British housewife Laura Hammond somehow finds time to write a film script amidst the chaos of her home life. Her work catches the attention of a Hollywood producer, and Laura unexpectedly finds herself the author of a hit film. She also finds she can only write when she's surrounded by her dysfunctional family. Eventually, Laura must choose between being a highly paid writer and celebrity or a housewife.
Cast
- Phyllis Calvert as Laura Hammond
- Patrick Barr as Charles Hammond
- Susan Stephen as Tessa Hammond
- Guy Rolfe as Stephen Hodgson
- Jean Taylor Smith as Grannie
- Sarah Lawson as Anne Hammond
- Delphi Lawrence as Mrs Madge Dixon
- Peter Hammond as Tony
- Richard Leech as John Hammond
- Robert Ayres as Leroy Crane
- Peter Illing as Guggenheimer
- Irene Handl as Neighbour
- Sam Kydd Uncredited
- Fred Griffiths as Removal Man (uncredited)
Critical reception
TV Guide noted, "some clever moments, but the film suffers from a staginess that makes it a mildly amusing comedy at best" ;[4] while the Radio Times found it "an amiable comedy...This is very much of its time, with its West End origins masked by skilful art direction, but the period cast is a British film fan's delight: Guy Rolfe, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen, Irene Handl, and even a young Shirley Anne Field. Director Michael McCarthy whips up a fair old storm in this particular teacup, and, although nothing really happens, there's a great deal of pleasure to be had from watching Calvert attempt to rule over her unruly household." [5]
References
- Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p510
- "It's Never Too Late (1956) - BFI". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
- Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
- "It's Never Too Late". TV Guide.
- Tony Sloman. "It's Never Too Late". RadioTimes.