Look Up and Laugh
| Look Up and Laugh | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Basil Dean |
| Produced by | Basil Dean |
| Written by |
J. B. Priestley Gordon Wellesley |
| Starring |
Gracie Fields Alfred Drayton Douglas Wakefield Vivien Leigh |
| Music by | Ernest Irving |
| Cinematography | Robert Martin |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Associated British |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Language | English |
Look Up and Laugh is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Basil Dean and starring Gracie Fields, Alfred Drayton and Douglas Wakefield. The film is notable for featuring an appearance by Vivien Leigh in an early supporting role. It was made at Ealing Studios.
Plot
Gracie Pearson (Fields) is a singer/comedian who returns home to enjoy a little holiday, but there is trouble brewing. First, she has to use all of her hard-earned money to pay for part of what her brother owes to a money lender. Then when they go to see their father, they find he has collapsed due to the Plumborough Market (where he has a stall) is threatened with demolition to make way for a department store. She receives a telegram offering a West End singing job, but decides to try to save the market instead.
As time runs out, Gracie rallies the stall keepers together through a series of ever more hilarious schemes in their attempts to save their livelihoods.
Cast
- Gracie Fields as Gracie Pearson
- Vivien Leigh as Marjorie Belfer
- Douglas Wakefield as Joe Chirk
- Alfred Drayton as Belfer
- Billy Nelson as Alf Chirk
- Harry Tate as Turnpenny
- Huntley Wright as Ketley
- Robb Wilton as Mayor
- Morris Harvey as Rosenbloom
- Maud Gill as Miss Canvey
- Norman Walker as Brierley
- Tommy Fields as Sidney Pearson
- Helen Ferrers as Lady Buster
- Kenneth Kove as Piano Assistant
- D.J. Williams as Malpas
Uncredited:
- Frank Atkinson as Debt Collector
- Florence Gregson as Mr. Pearson's Housekeeper
- Arthur Hambling as Sam
- James Harcourt as Mr. Pearson
- Anthony Holles as Store Manager
- Mike Johnson as Man Outside Market
- Jack Melford as Journalist
- Kenneth More as Bit Part
- Ernest Sefton as Borough Engineer
Reception
Writing for The Spectator, Graham Greene described the film as "light [with] a pleasant local flavour" the plot of which is "genuinely provincial". Greene praised Priestley's writing and opined that the film distinguishes itself "by the sense that a man's observation and experience, as well as his invention, has gone into its making".[1]
DVD release
This film is currently available as part of the Gracie Fields collector's edition which in addition to this film includes the films Sally in Our Alley (1931), Looking on the Bright Side (1932), Love, Life and Laughter (1934), Sing As We Go (1934), Queen of Hearts and The Show Goes On (1937), these are on 4 discs. Two films each on three of the discs with the other film on disc four.
References
- ↑ Greene, Graham (9 August 1935). "The Trunk Mystery/Hands of Orlac/Look Up and Laugh/The Memory Expert". The Spectator. (reprinted in: John Russel, Taylor, ed. (1980). The Pleasure Dome. p. 12. ISBN 0192812866.)