Twice Upon a Time (1953 film)

Twice Upon a Time
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Emeric Pressburger
Written by	Emeric Pressburger Wendy Orme
Based on	Lottie and Lisa by Erich Kästner
Produced by	Emeric Pressburger
Starring	Hugh Williams Elizabeth Allan Jack Hawkins
Cinematography	Christopher Challis
Edited by	Reginald Beck
Music by	Frederick Lewis
Production company	London Films
Distributed by	British Lion Films
Release date	6 July 1953 (1953-07-06)
Running time	75 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£102,000[1]

Twice Upon a Time is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Emeric Pressburger and starring Hugh Williams, Elizabeth Allan, Yolande Larthe, and Charmian Larthe. It is based on the 1949 novel Lisa and Lottie by Erich Kästner.[2]

Lotte and Lisa had already been adapted into the films Two Times Lotte (1950) and Hibari no komoriuta (1951). Twice Upon a Time was the first English-language film adaptation; the story was later twice adapted as The Parent Trap (1961 and 1998) and has been remade a number of times in English and many other languages. It was shot at Shepperton Studios with sets designed by the art director Arthur Lawson.

The film is the only solo directing credit for Pressburger, whose other directing credits are in association with Michael Powell.

Plot

Twin sisters are separated when their parents divorce. They meet again by accident when they are sent to the same summer camp, and they hatch a plan to reunite their parents.

Cast

• Hugh Williams as James Turner
• Elizabeth Allan as Carol-Anne Bailey
• Jack Hawkins as Dr. Mathews
• Yolande Larthe as Carol Turner
• Charmian Larthe as Anne Bailey
• Violette Elvin as Florence la Riche
• Isabel Dean as Miss Burke
• Michael Gough as Mr. Lloyd
• Walter Fitzgerald as Professor Reynolds
• Jeanne Stuart as Mrs. Jamieson
• Nora Gordon as Emma
• Martin Miller as Eipeldauer
• Lily Kann as Mrs. Eipeldauer
• Collin Wilcox as Ian
• Jack Lambert as Ernest
• Pat Baker as Sonia
• Isabel George as Molly
• Alanna Boyce as Susie
• Margaret McCourt as Wendy
• Myrette Morven as Miss Rupert
• Margaret Boyd as Mrs. Kinnaird
• Cicely Walper as Mrs. Maybridge
• Mollie Terraine as Miss Wellington
• Archie Duncan as Doorman

References

1. Kevin Macdonald (1994). Emeric Pressburger: The Life and Death of a Screenwriter. Faber and Faber. p. 335. ISBN 978-0-571-16853-8.
2. Goble p.252

Bibliography

• Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter, 1999.

External links

• Twice Upon a Time at IMDb