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The Brass Monkey (film)

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Director
  
Thornton Freeland

Language
  
English

5.8/10
IMDb

Duration
  

Country
  
United Kingdom


Writer
  
Alec Coppel
,
Vernon Sylvaine

Release date
  
1948

Brass Monkey or The Brass Monkey (1948) is a British comedy thriller with musical asides, directed by Thornton Freeland. It stars Carroll Levis, a radio variety show host and talent scout (known as "Britains favorite Canadian") and American actress Carole Landis. This was Landis' last film. Also known as The Lucky Mascot, the film is noted for an early appearance by comic actor Terry-Thomas, playing himself.

Contents

Though made in 1948, The Brass Monkey wasn't released in the US until 1951.

Plot

Popular radio presenter Carroll Levis (playing himself), and Kay Sheldon (Carole Landis) find themselves entangled in a web of smuggling and murder. When a priceless "brass monkey" is stolen from a Japanese temple and smuggled into England, Levis encounters the eccentric Mr. Ryder-Harris (Ernest Thesiger), a Buddhist art connoisseur who's chasing the artefact, and will apparently stop at nothing to get it. The monkey is missing and there’s a suspicion murders are being committed in the hunt for its retrieval. With the help of the Discoveries radio talent, Levis attempts to avoid murderous henchman Herbert Lom, and foil Mr. Ryder-Harris's plans. Amongst all the mayhem, an array of musical and comedy performers audition for and appear on The Levis Hour, the hero's weekly radio program.

Cast

  • Carroll Levis as Himself
  • Carole Landis as Kay Sheldon
  • Herbert Lom as Peter Hobart
  • Avril Angers as Herself
  • Ernest Thesiger as Ryder-Harris
  • Edward Underdown as Max Taylor
  • Henry Edwards as Inspector Miller
  • Henry Worthington as Rodney
  • Terry-Thomas as Himself
  • Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson as Hutch
  • Campbell Cotts as A.J. Gilroy

    • Production

    Landis arrived in England to make the film in August 1947. Landis says she encouraged English actors to speak slower so US audiences could understand them.

    Songs

  • "It's the Greatest Business in the world" by Gaby Rogers - staged by Buddy Bradley
  • "Home Sweet Home" by Sid Colin and Steve Race
  • "Somebody Blew My Bluebird's Egg" by Noel Langley and Pat Quin
  • "I Know Myself Too Well" by Ross Parker
  • "Tomorrow's Rainbow" by Colin Campbell

    • Critical reception

  • Time Out called the film a "ramshackle support feature," and concluded it was "a curio, but not really a collectible."
  • In a contemporary review, The Geraldton Guardian called The Brass Monkey, a "well told story."
  • Sky Movies wrote, "a rough (very rough) and tumble British comedy-thriller spun round the then popular shows featuring Carroll Levis. ... Not much as a film ... But of undoubted interest for its extraordinary cast."

    • References

    The Brass Monkey (film) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA

    The Brass Monkey (film) IMDb The Brass Monkey (film) themoviedb.org


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