The Good Companions (1933 film)
7.2 /10 1 Votes7.2
Genres Comedy, Black-and-white Language English | 7/10 Duration Country United Kingdom | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Writer Release date 28 February 1933 (1933-02-28) Cast (Susie Dean), (Jess Oakroyd), (Inigo Jollifant), (Miss Elizabeth Trant), (Morton Mitcham), A.W. Baskcomb (Jimmy Nunn)Similar movies Related Victor Saville movies |
The Good Companions is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Victor Saville starring Jessie Matthews and John Gielgud. It was based on the novel of the same name by J.B. Priestley.
Contents
Plot
A group of widely divergent characters meet up with a broken-down touring concert-party, throw in their lot with them, and eventually triumph after temporary setbacks. This British musical-comedy follows an unlikely trio as they try to revive the fortunes of the floundering theatrical troupe. School teacher Inigo Jolifant (John Gielgud) with his talent for songwriting, and recently unemployed Jess Oakroyd (Edmund Gwenn) with his theatrical ambitions, together persuade Miss Trant (Mary Glynne), an older single woman looking for adventure, to fund them as they attempt to bring "The Dinky Doos" back into the spotlight. Susie Dean (Jessie Matthews) is a chorus girl who dreams of stardom, and when she's made the new leader of the show, it looks as if her dreams may finally come true.
Partial cast
Critical reception
In comparing the film to the book, The New York Times wrote, "It is, indeed, a better production than was to be expected, for, while there are omissions and a certain hastening of parts of the narrative, the cheery personalities are present and in good form," and concluded, "Miss Matthews sings pleasingly and dances gracefully, while Mr. Gielgud's portrayal is extraordinarily real. It is one of those stories which is all the more worth while for having been made in England, for, aside from the naturalness of the players, there are the scenes of country houses and hedged roads, which add to the general effect of the picture"; whereas Time Out wrote, "Saville's direction is adequate rather than inspired, but he elicits marvellous performances from his disparate cast. Matthews' portrayal of a bubblingly neurotic soubrette is wonderful, and not surprisingly shot her to stardom. The film does feed on rather than explore the twee camaraderie of the provincial touring company, but an English backstage musical as witty and well-handled as this is something to be thankful for indeed"; and Leonard Maltin called it "a delightful film. Matthews is given full rein to display her considerable musical and comedic charms; Gielgud is equally humorous and surprising. He even sings!"
References
The Good Companions (1933 film) WikipediaThe Good Companions (1933 film) IMDb The Good Companions (1933 film) themoviedb.org