Summary
A Date with a Dream is a 1948 British musical comedy film directed by Dicky Leeman and starring Terry-Thomas, Jeannie Carson and Wally Patch.[1] Its plot concerns a wartime group of musical entertainers who meet up a year after being demobbed and decide to reform their act. This was one of Terry-Thomas's earliest films and is reputedly partly based on his own experiences.[2] Terry-Thomas was yet to develop his cad persona and a then little-known Norman Wisdom appears in a very brief, non-speaking role.
| A Date with a Dream | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Dicky Leeman |
| Written by | Robert S. Baker Monty Berman Dicky Leeman Carl Nystrom |
| Produced by | Robert S. Baker Monty Berman |
| Starring | Terry-Thomas Jeannie Carson Len Lowe Bill Lowe |
| Cinematography | Monty Berman |
| Edited by | Anne Barker |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Grand National Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 55 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot edit
When an Army concert party is disbanded after the war, they plan to meet up in a years time for a reunion. When they do they discover that all the various members aren't coping too well with civilian life. Jean, a singer who is staying in the same house as two of the ex-concert party members, suggests that the various members get back together to perform.[3]
Cast edit
- Terry-Thomas – Terry
- Jeannie Carson – Jean
- Len Lowe – Len
- Bill Lowe – Bill
- Wally Patch – Uncle
- Vic Lewis – Vic
- Ida Patlanski – Bedelia
- Joey Porter – Max Imshy
- Alfie Dean – Joe
- Julia Lang – Madam Docherty
- Harry Green – Syd Marlish
- Norman Wisdom – Shadow Boxer
- Sydney Bromley – Stranger in Max's office
Critical reception edit
Sky Movies wrote, "a sparkling performance from the young Terry-Thomas and a bright, sassy attitude saves this dated, rather choppy little filler item from the scrapheap of movie history. Worth a look for nostalgia buffs and curio collectors".[4]
A Date With A Dream was the first production of Tempean Films, a production company founded by Monty Berman and Robert S. Baker following their war service. Of the film, Baker later commented, "It didn't make us a penny, but it gave us a good introduction to the film business". Tempean would go on to produce many British B-movies throughout the 1950s and into the early 1960s [5]
References edit
- ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | DATE WITH A DREAM (1948)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
- ^ "A Date With A Dream Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "BFI | Film & TV Database | DATE WITH A DREAM (1948)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ "Date with a Dream - Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 4 October 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
- ^ Sothcott, Jonathan (2001). The Flesh And The Fiends (DVD Liner Notes). Image Entertainment. p. 1.
External links edit
- A Date with a Dream at IMDb
- dvd of the film[permanent dead link]
- [1] interview British Entertainment History Project