Top of the Form (also known as Fair's Fair) is a 1953 British black-and-white comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Ronald Shiner, Anthony Newley and Harry Fowler.[2][3] The film draws inspiration from Will Hay's 1937 classic Good Morning, Boys.[4]
| Top of the Form | |
|---|---|
.jpg?lang=en) Original British quad poster | |
| Directed by | John Paddy Carstairs |
| Written by |
|
| Story by | Anthony Kimmins Val Guest Leslie Arliss Marriott Edgar |
| Produced by | Paul Soskin |
| Starring | Ronald Shiner |
| Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
| Edited by | Alfred Roome |
| Music by | Ronald Hanmer |
Production companies | Paul Soskin Productions British Film-Makers |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 72 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £143,000 (UK)[1] |
Plot summary
editThis story explores a bookmaker Ronnie Fortescue, who becomes headmaster of a boys' school, and of his and his pupil's adventures in passing examinations and on a subsequent free trip to Paris. Once in Paris, headmaster and pupils become embroiled in gambling casinos, and in a plot to steal the French Crown Jewels.
Cast
edit- Ronald Shiner as Professor Ronnie Fortescue
- Anthony Newley as Percy
- Harry Fowler as Albert
- Jacqueline Pierreux as Yvette
- Alfie Bass as Arty Jones
- Mary Jerrold as Mrs. Bagshot
- Richard Wattis as Willoughby Gore
- Howard Marion-Crawford as Dickson
- Roland Curram as Terence
- Terence Mitchell as Clarence
- Gerald Campion as Pugley
- Oscar Quitak as Septimus
- Kynaston Reeves as the Dean
- Martin Benson as Cliquet
- Graham Stark as Wilson
- Hal Osmond as Barber
- Danny Green as bookies' thug
- Melvyn Hayes as schoolboy with glasses
- Ronnie Corbett as student (uncredited)
- Ronan O'Casey as brother
- Naomi Chance as Northern woman on station
- Andreas Malandrinos as museum concierge
Production
editIt was made at Pinewood Studios near London with sets designed by the art director Maurice Carter. The film earned billings of £143,000.[5]
Critical reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Good Morning, Boys was possibly crude and to some distasteful, and its success depended on Will Hay. Ronald Shiner, though a popular comedian whose presence will no doubt ensure the film's box-office success, is far from being another Will Hay, and the film consequently remains crude and distasteful. The comedy, poorly scripted, is slow and unfunny, and depends mainly on slapstick and slap and tickle."[6]
The Radio Times called it a "misfiring Ronald Shiner vehicle... Less amusing than [Will] Hay's St Michael's outings and less anarchic than the St Trinian's romps, this efficient but underwhelming caper is all too typical of its director, John Paddy Carstairs".[4]
References
edit- ^ Harper, Sue; Porter, Vincent (2003). British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference. p. 41.
- ^ "Top of the Form". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ "Top of the Form (1953)". Archived from the original on 30 October 2016.
- ^ a b "Top of the Form – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.
- ^ BFI Collections: Michael Balcon Papers H3 reprinted in British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference By Sue Harper, Vincent Porter p 41
- ^ "Top of the Form". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 20 (228): 57. 1 January 1953 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Top Of The Form - TV Guide". TVGuide.com.