It's Never Too Late (1956 film)
| It's Never Too Late | |
|---|---|
.jpg) U.S. lobby card | |
| Directed by | Michael McCarthy |
| Produced by |
George Pitcher Jules Simmons |
| Written by |
Edward Dryhurst Felicity Douglas (play) |
| Starring |
Phyllis Calvert Patrick Barr Susan Stephen Guy Rolfe |
| Music by | Wally Stott |
| Cinematography | C.M. Pennington-Richards |
| Edited by | Charles Hasse |
Production company |
Park Lane Films |
Release dates | 1956 |
Running time | 96 mins. |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £128,208[1] |
It's Never Too Late is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Phyllis Calvert, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen and Guy Rolfe.[2] It was based on a play by Felicity Douglas.
Plot
Feeling her combative family has long taken her for granted, genteel British housewife Laura Hammond somehow finds time to write a film script amidst the chaos of her home life. Her work catches the attention of a Hollywood producer, and Laura unexpectedly finds herself the author of a hit film. She also finds she can only write when she's surrounded by her dysfunctional family. Eventually, Laura must choose between being a highly paid writer and celebrity, or a housewife.
Cast
- Phyllis Calvert - Laura Hammond
- Patrick Barr - Charles Hammond
- Susan Stephen - Tessa Hammond
- Guy Rolfe - Stephen Hodgson
- Jean Taylor Smith - Grannie
- Sarah Lawson - Anne Hammond
- Delphi Lawrence - Mrs Madge Dixon
- Peter Hammond - Tony
- Richard Leech - John Hammond
- Robert Ayres - Leroy Crane
- Peter Illing - Guggenheimer
- Irene Handl - Neighbour
Critical reception
TV Guide noted, "some clever moments, but the film suffers from a staginess that makes it a mildly amusing comedy at best" ; [3] while the Radio Times found it "an amiable comedy...This is very much of its time, with its West End origins masked by skilful art direction, but the period cast is a British film fan's delight: Guy Rolfe, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen, Irene Handl, and even a young Shirley Anne Field. Director Michael McCarthy whips up a fair old storm in this particular teacup, and, although nothing really happens, there's a great deal of pleasure to be had from watching Calvert attempt to rule over her unruly household." [4]
References
- ↑ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p510
- ↑ "It's Never Too Late (1956) - BFI". BFI.
- ↑ "It's Never Too Late". TV Guide.
- ↑ Tony Sloman. "It's Never Too Late". RadioTimes.