Made in Heaven (1952 film)

2022-11-26T12:13:46Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Made in Heaven
| image = "Made_in_Heaven"_(1952).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Original British 3-sheet poster
| director = [[John Paddy Carstairs]]
| producer = George H. Brown
| screenplay = George H. Brown [[William Douglas-Home]]
| based_on =
| narrator =
| starring = [[David Tomlinson]] [[Petula Clark]] [[Sonja Ziemann]] [[A. E. Matthews]]
| music = [[Philip Martell]] (musical director) [[Ronald Hanmer]] (composer)
| cinematography = [[Geoffrey Unsworth]]
| editing = [[John D. Guthridge]]
| studio = Fanfare Productions
| distributor = [[General Film Distributors]] (UK)
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|1952|11}} (UK)
| runtime = 90 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
'''''Made in Heaven''''' is a 1952 British [[Technicolor]] [[comedy film]] directed by [[John Paddy Carstairs]] which stars [[David Tomlinson]], [[Petula Clark]] and [[Sonja Ziemann]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/41244|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114090058/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/41244|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-01-14|title=Made in Heaven (1952)|publisher=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44795320 |title=Comedy and color are behind new British film boom. |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] | date=1 October 1952 |accessdate=17 December 2015 |page=58 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The screenplay was based on a story by [[William Douglas-Home]]. It was shot at [[Pinewood Studios]] outside [[London]]. The film's sets were designed by the [[art director]] [[Maurice Carter (film designer)|Maurice Carter]].

==Plot summary==
Young married couple Basil (David Tomlinson) and Julie Topham (Petula Clark) enter the ancient annual [[Great Dunmow#Flitch Trials|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 Topham's happy household, and then an entire village is thrown into chaos with the arrival of an attractive Hungarian housemaid (Sonja Ziemann).

==Cast==
{{div col}}
* [[David Tomlinson]] as Basil Topham
* [[Petula Clark]] as Julie Topham
* [[Sonja Ziemann]] as Marta
* [[A. E. Matthews]] as Hillary Topham (Grandpa)
* [[Charles Victor]] as Aubrey Topham
* [[Sophie Stewart]] as Marjorie Topham
* [[Philip Stainton]] as Stanley Grimes
* [[Richard Wattis]] as Hayworth Honeycroft, the Vicar
* [[Michael Brennan (actor)|Michael Brennan]] as Sergeant Marne
* [[Alfie Bass]] as Bert Jenkins
* [[Dora Bryan]] as Ethel Jenkins
* [[Ferdy Mayne]] as István
* [[Athene Seyler]] as Miss Rosabelle Honeycroft (the Vicar's sister)
* [[Harold Kasket]] as The Fat Man
* George Bishop as The Bishop
* Margot Lister as Bishop's Wife
* [[John Warren (actor)|John Warren]] as Keeper of the Wheel
* [[Ronnie Stevens (actor)|Ronnie Stevens]] as TV Announcer
* Gilbert Davis as TV Gent
* [[Stuart Latham]] as Porter
* Vernon Morris as Dick
* [[Vincent Ball]] as Man at Party
{{div col end}}

==Critical reception==
In 1952, ''[[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";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.petulaclark.net/films/madeinheaven.html|title=Made in Heaven|website=www.petulaclark.net}}</ref> while more recently, 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."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/film/cbzny/made-in-heaven|title=Made in Heaven – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114001640/http://www.radiotimes.com/film/cbzny/made-in-heaven|url-status=dead|archive-date=2016-11-14}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0044864}}

{{John Paddy Carstairs}}

[[Category:1952 films]]
[[Category:1952 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films directed by John Paddy Carstairs]]
[[Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:Films scored by Ronald Hanmer]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]

{{1950s-UK-comedy-film-stub}}

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Made in Heaven (1952 film)