Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

Its a Grand Life

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Director
  
John E. Blakeley

Producer
  
John E. Blakeley

Language
  
English

6.8/10
IMDb

Genre
  
Comedy

Cinematography
  
Ernest Palmer

Duration
  

Country
  
United Kingdom

Its a Grand Life movie poster

Cast
  
Frank Randle
(Pvt. Randle),
Diana Dors
(Cpl. Paula Clements),
Dan Young
(Pvt. Young),
Michael Brennan
(Sgt. Maj. O'Reilly),
Jennifer Jayne
(Pvt. Desmond),
John Blythe
(Pvt. Philip Green)

Writer
  
H.F. Maltby
,
Frank Randle

Release date
  
November 1953 (1953-11)

Similar movies
  
Privates Progress (1956)

It s a grand life 1953 trailer


It's a Grand Life is a 1953 British comedy film starring Frank Randle and Diana Dors. Music hall comedian Frank Randle who had previously starred in a film series of World War II army comedies (Somewhere in England (1940), Somewhere in Camp (1942), Somewhere on Leave (1942), Somewhere in Civvies (1943), Somewhere in Politics (1949)) stars as an accident-prone Private in his final film appearance. The film also features the professional wrestler Jack Pye and the popular pianist Winifred Atwell. The role of Pte Pendergast was played by Arthur White, who is the elder brother of the actor Sir David Jason.

Contents

It's a Grand Life Its a Grand Life Wikipedia

Winifred atwell plays dixie in it s a grand life 1953


Plot

It's a Grand Life Its a Grand Life 1953

The film is described in its opening titles as a comedy burlesque and is not meant to be derogatory to the army. Rather than having a tight plot, the film is a series of sketches set against army life in the Essex Regiment in the post World War II era mostly involving an old private (Frank Randle). One of the sub plots involves a glamorous Women's Royal Army Corps Corporal being pursued and sexually harassed by her Company Sergeant Major (Michael Brennan). Other set pieces include a wrestling match with Jack Pye and a drill sequence.

Cast

  • Frank Randle - Pte. Randle
  • Diana Dors - Cpl. Paula Clements
  • Dan Young - Pte. Young
  • Michael Brennan - Sgt. Maj. O'Reilly
  • Jennifer Jayne - Pte. Desmond
  • John Blythe - Pte. Philip Green
  • Anthony Hulme - Capt. Saunders
  • Charles Peters - Pte. Rubenstein
  • Arthur White - Pte. Prendergast
  • Leslie Gould
  • Kevin Peters
  • Ian Fleming - Mr. Clements
  • Ruth Taylor - Mrs. Clements
  • Jack Pye - Himself, Wrestler
  • Bill Gernon - Himself, Wrestler
  • Cab Cashford - Himself, Wrestler
  • Carl Van Wurden - Himself, Wrestler
  • Winifred Atwell - Herself, Guest Artiste
  • Peter Mullings - Dance Hall Manager (uncredited)
  • George Jackson - Jeep Driver (Uncredited)
  • Critical reception

    In the Radio Times, Tony Sloman called it a "quaint and cheap army caper," and wrote of Randle, "If you've never seen him, give this a chance you might find he'll tickle your fancy. But if you have an aversion to music-hall stars on celluloid, give up, for Randle has neither the wit of George Formby nor the warmth of Gracie Fields, and by the time this movie was made he was looking tired and rather grubby."

    References

    It's a Grand Life Wikipedia
    Its a Grand Life IMDb Its a Grand Life themoviedb.org