Kurt at 20:28, 14 March 2023

2023-03-14T20:28:33Z

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	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = For Better, for Worse		\| name = For Better, for Worse
	\| image = ~~"For_Better_for_Worse"_~~(1954).jpg		\| image = For Better for Worse (1954).jpg
	\| image_size =		\| image_size =
	\| caption = British theatrical poster		\| caption = British theatrical poster

Kurt at 17:11, 13 March 2023

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	~~{{short description\|1954 film}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=November 2014}}~~
	~~{{Use British English\|date=November 2014}}~~
	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = For Better, for Worse		\| name = For Better, for Worse
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	*[https://letterboxd.com/film/for-better-for-worse/ For Better For Worse] at Letterbox DVD		*[https://letterboxd.com/film/for-better-for-worse/ For Better For Worse] at Letterbox DVD
	*{{TCMDb title\|75321}}		*{{TCMDb title\|75321}}
	~~{{J. Lee Thompson}}~~

	[[Category:Films directed by J. Lee Thompson]]		[[Category:Films directed by J. Lee Thompson]]
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	[[Category:1950s English-language films]]		[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
	[[Category:1950s British films]]		[[Category:1950s British films]]


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

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en>Britfilm: /* Box Office */ add info

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Box Office: add info

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{{short description|1954 film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox film
| name = For Better, for Worse
| image = "For_Better_for_Worse"_(1954).jpg
| image_size =
| caption = British theatrical poster
| director = [[J. Lee Thompson]]
| producer = [[Kenneth Harper]]
| writer = J. Lee Thompson Peter Myers Alec Grahame
| based_on = ''[[For Better, for Worse (play)|For Better, for Worse]]'' by [[Arthur Watkyn]]
| narrator =
| starring = [[Dirk Bogarde]] [[Susan Stephen]] [[Cecil Parker]] [[Eileen Herlie]] [[Athene Seyler]]
| music = [[Angela Morley]]
| cinematography = [[Guy Green (filmmaker)|Guy Green]]
| editing = [[Peter Taylor (film editor)|Peter Taylor]]
| studio = Kenwood Productions
| distributor = [[Associated British-Pathe]]
| released = {{film date|df=y|1954|9|27}}
| runtime = 85 minutres
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross = £206,736 (UK)<ref name="box">Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', ''Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television'', Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p504</ref>
}}
'''''For Better, for Worse''''' is a 1954 British [[comedy film]] in [[Eastmancolor]] directed by [[J. Lee Thompson]] and starring [[Dirk Bogarde]], [[Susan Stephen]] and [[Cecil Parker]]. It was based on [[Arthur Watkyn]]'s [[For Better, for Worse (play)|play of the same title]] which had run for over 500 performances in the West End starring [[Leslie Phillips]] and [[Geraldine McEwan]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39362995 |title=SPOTLIGHT ON THE STARS. |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Western Australia)|Western Mail]] |location=Perth |date=29 April 1954 |access-date=3 June 2012 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6aa68fea |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712004618/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6aa68fea |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-12 |title=For Better. For Worse | BFI | BFI |publisher=Explore.bfi.org.uk |access-date=2014-04-05}}</ref> It was released in the United States as '''''Cocktails in the Kitchen'''''.

==Plot==
A young couple – Tony and Anne ([[Dirk Bogarde]] and [[Susan Stephen]]) decide to get married, however Tony does not have the required prospects that her father ([[Cecil Parker]]) insists on, so he sets his future son-in-law some conditions before allowing the wedding.

==Cast==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Dirk Bogarde]] as Tony Howard
* [[Susan Stephen]] as Anne Purves
* [[Cecil Parker]] as Anne's Father
* [[Eileen Herlie]] as Anne's Mother
* [[Athene Seyler]] as Miss Mainbrace
* [[Dennis Price]] as Debenham
* Pia Terri as Mrs. Debenham
* [[James Hayter (actor)|James Hayter]] as the Plumber
* [[Thora Hird]] as Mrs. Doyle
* [[George Woodbridge (actor)|George Woodbridge]] as Alf
* [[Charles Victor]] as Fred
* [[Sid James]] as the Foreman
* [[Peter Jones (actor)|Peter Jones]] as the Car Salesman
* [[Edwin Styles]] as Anne's Boss
* Mary Law as Girl in Office.
* [[Leonard Sharp (actor)|Leonard Sharp]] as First Workman
* [[Dennis Wyndham]] as Second Workman
* [[Robin Bailey]] as Store Salesman
* [[Digby Wolfe]] as Grocer's Assistant
* [[Geoffrey Hibbert]] as Butcher's Assistant
* [[Ronnie Stevens (actor)|Ronnie Stevens]] as Fishmonger's Assistant
* [[Jackie Collins]] as Glamour Girl
{{div col end}}

==Production==
The film was based on a play by Arthur Watkins, a censor for the British film board who wrote plays under a pen name [[Arthur Watkyn]].<ref>{{cite news|title=ARTHUR WATKINS, [A PLAYWRIGHT, 58]: Ex-Secretary of British Film Censorship Board Dies|work=New York Times|date=Aug 2, 1965|page=29}}</ref> The play debuted in London in December 1952 with a cast including Leslie Philips, Dandy Nichols and Geraldine McEwan.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article39362995 |title=SPOTLIGHT ON THE STARS |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Western Australia)|Western Mail]] |volume=69 |issue=3,365 |location=Western Australia |date=29 April 1954 |access-date=9 July 2020 |page=24 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Reviews called it "agreeable".<ref>{{cite news|title="FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE": A "Comedy of our Time"|author=Hope-Wallace, Philip|work=The Manchester Guardian|date=Dec 18, 1952|page=3}}</ref> It was a huge success, running for over 500 performances. The play was performed on radio and television.<ref>{{cite book|first=Leslie|last=Phillips|pages=147–152|title=Hello : the autobiography|year=2006 |publisher=Orion }}</ref>

Film rights were purchased by Associated British. Susan Stephens had just been in ''[[His Excellency (1952 film)|His Excellency]]'' at [[Ealing Studios]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article57956348 |title=BOY WITH BATON NOW HAS WHIP |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |volume=54 |issue=2,189 |location=Adelaide |date=22 May 1954 |access-date=9 July 2020 |page=8 (SUNDAY MAGAZINE) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> It was the first role for Pia Terri from Italy.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167645825 |title=TALENTED ITALIAN |newspaper=[[The Newcastle Sun]] |issue=11,326 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=27 October 1954 |access-date=9 July 2020 |page=8 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Filming took place at [[Associated British Elstree Studios|Elstree Studios]], starting 1 March 1954.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Kine Weekly|page=27|title=Comedy in Colour|date=25 February 1954|url=https://archive.org/details/kineweekly2435/page/n28/mode/1up?q=%22for+better+for+worse%22}}</ref> It was the first film shot there to use Eastman colour.<ref>{{cite news|title=Round the British Studios|author=Nepean, Edith|work=Picture Show|location=London|volume=63|issue=1631|date=Jul 3, 1954|page=11}}</ref> The film's sets were designed by the [[art director]] [[Michael Stringer]].

==Reception==
===Box Office===
The film was successful at the box office in Britain, helped in part by the fact Dirk Bogarde had just been seen in ''Doctor in the House''.<ref name="box"/> According to ''Kinematograph Weekly'' the film was a "money maker" at the British box office in 1954.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Josh|last=Billings|magazine=Kinematograph Weekly|title=Other monkey makers|date=16 December 1954|page=9}}</ref>

===Critical reception===
The Monthly Film Bulletin said "there is nothing very original... but it is played with charm and veracity."<ref>{{cite news|title=FOR BETTER, FOR WORSE|work=Monthly Film Bulletin|location=London|volume=21|issue=240|date=Jan 1, 1954|page=161 }}</ref>

[[Sky Movies]] noted "Arthur Watkyn's famous stage success has proved successful material for drama societies up and down the land – but still comes up like new in this bright little film version...Warm, human and charmingly funny domestic comedy, dressed up as fresh as paint by the colour camerawork."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skymovies.sky.com/for-better-for-worse/review |title=For Better, For Worse – Sky Movies HD |publisher=Skymovies.sky.com |date=2006-01-27 |access-date=2014-04-05}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|id=0046991|title=For Better, for Worse}}
*[https://letterboxd.com/film/for-better-for-worse/ For Better For Worse] at Letterbox DVD
*{{TCMDb title|75321}}
{{J. Lee Thompson}}

[[Category:Films directed by J. Lee Thompson]]
[[Category:1954 films]]
[[Category:Films shot at Associated British Studios]]
[[Category:British comedy films]]
[[Category:1954 comedy films]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by J. Lee Thompson]]
[[Category:British films based on plays]]
[[Category:Films about marriage]]
[[Category:Films set in London]]
[[Category:Films shot in London]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]

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

For Better, for Worse (1954 film) - Revision history

Kurt at 20:28, 14 March 2023

Kurt at 17:11, 13 March 2023

Kurt: 1 revision imported

en>Britfilm: /* Box Office */ add info