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Made in Heaven (1952 film)
Made in Heaven is a 1952 British Technicolor comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs which stars David Tomlinson, Petula Clark and Sonja Ziemann.[1][2][3] The screenplay was by George H. Brown and William Douglas-Home. Plot summaryYoung married couple Basil and Julie Topham enter the ancient annual Dunmow Flitch Trials (in which a married couple can win a side of bacon if at the end of one year, they have 'not wisht themselves unmarried again'). However, the Tophams' happy household, and then an entire village is thrown into chaos with the arrival of an attractive Hungarian housemaid. Cast
ProductionIt was shot at Pinewood Studios outside London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Maurice Carter. Critical receptionThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A simple-minded comedy giving a curious view of the English middle classes, who are always dressing up, for the Flitch contest, for square daricing, for amateur theatricals. These antics make the players look foolish but not, unfortunately, funny. Some time-worn jokes – mainly struggles with the English language – a pleasant, bumbling performance from A. E. Matthews, and a general failure to achieve the requisite lightness of touch. "[4] Picturegoer wrote, ". . .when you get down to analysing the ingredients, it's just cream-puff comedy, really – and the least bit stale cream puff at that. The main thing though is not to analyse but to swallow it whole and enjoy it. It's well-tried and not always especially true British comedy, but the film has a happy air about it. Attractively grown-up Pet Clark turns in a sparkling performance as the doubting young wife. She manages to hold her own against the devastating eyelashes and flashing, wicked smiles of Sonja Ziemann as the hired help. But it's the old hands at this kind of comedy who really carry the fun along: David Tomlinson, Charles Victor and A. E. Matthews, as son, father and grandfather respectively, all stock characters. Yes it's all gay and merry. It has a springtime spirit – and a springtime look, too in its spruce, sunny Technicolour."[5] The Radio Times concluded, "Vicar Richard Wattis and his stern sister (Athene Seyler) add considerably to the fun, which is steadily directed in an amiably sitcom-like way by John Paddy Carstairs and glossily photographed by Geoffrey Unsworth."[6] References
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