Kurt at 14:11, 7 February 2023

2023-02-07T14:11:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:11, 7 February 2023
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	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	~~\| name = Simon and Laura~~
	\| image = Simon and Laura (1954).jpg		\| image = Simon and Laura (1954).jpg
	\| caption =		\| caption =
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	\| studio = Group Film Productions Limited		\| studio = Group Film Productions Limited
	\| distributor = [[Rank Organisation\|J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]]		\| distributor = [[Rank Organisation\|J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]]
	\| released = {{film date~~\|df=y~~\|1955\|11\|22\|London}}		\| released = {{film date\|1955\|11\|22\|London\|df=y}}
	\| runtime = 91 minutes		\| runtime = 91 minutes
	\| country = United Kingdom		\| country = United Kingdom

Kurt at 04:22, 7 February 2023

2023-02-07T04:22:53Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:22, 6 February 2023
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	{{Infobox film		{{Infobox film
	\| name = Simon and Laura		\| name = Simon and Laura
	\| image = ~~"Simon_and_Laura"_~~(1954).~~jpeg~~		\| image = Simon and Laura (1954).jpg
	~~\| image_size =~~		\| caption =
	\| caption = ~~film poster~~
	\| director = [[Muriel Box]]		\| director = [[Muriel Box]]
	\| producer = Teddy Baird		\| producer = Teddy Baird
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	\| budget =		\| budget =
	\| gross =		\| gross =
	~~}}{{EngvarB\|date=September 2013}}~~		}}
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=September 2013~~}}
	'''''Simon and Laura''''' is a 1955 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Muriel Box]] and starring [[Peter Finch]] and [[Kay Kendall]].		'''''Simon and Laura''''' is a 1955 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Muriel Box]] and starring [[Peter Finch]] and [[Kay Kendall]].

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	==External links==		==External links==
	*{{IMDb title\|0048621}}		*{{IMDb title\|0048621}}
	*~~[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/~~533349~~/index.html ''~~Simon and Laura~~''] at [[Screenonline]]~~		*{{Screenonline\|\|533349\|Simon and Laura}}

	~~{{Muriel Box~~}}

	[[Category:1955 films]]		[[Category:1955 films]]
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	[[Category:1950s English-language films]]		[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
	[[Category:1950s British films]]		[[Category:1950s British films]]
			[[Category:British comedy films]]

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2023-02-07T04:16:23Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 23:16, 6 February 2023
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en>VoroSP: /* Play cast */

2022-09-11T08:34:59Z

Play cast

New page

{{Infobox film
| name = Simon and Laura
| image = "Simon_and_Laura"_(1954).jpeg
| image_size =
| caption = film poster
| director = [[Muriel Box]]
| producer = Teddy Baird
| screenplay = [[Peter Blackmore (screenwriter)|Peter Blackmore]]
| based_on = by [[Alan Melville (writer)|Alan Melville]]
| starring = [[Peter Finch]]<br>[[Kay Kendall]]
| music = [[Benjamin Frankel]]
| cinematography = [[Ernest Steward]]
| editing = [[Jean Barker (film editor)|Jean Barker]]
| color_process = Colour by [[Technicolor]]
| studio = Group Film Productions Limited
| distributor = [[Rank Organisation|J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors]]
| released = {{film date|df=y|1955|11|22|London}}
| runtime = 91 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
'''''Simon and Laura''''' is a 1955 British [[comedy film]] directed by [[Muriel Box]] and starring [[Peter Finch]] and [[Kay Kendall]].

==Play==
Satirising the early days of BBC Television, ''Simon and Laura'' focuses on an argumentative theatrical couple called Simon and Laura Foster; they've been together for some 20 years and are given a new lease of life when playing a faux-harmonious version of 'themselves' in a daily soap opera filmed in their own home. Presented by H M Tennent Ltd, the play began a provincial tour at the Opera House Manchester on 30 August 1954, subsequently opening at the [[Novello Theatre|Strand Theatre]] in London's West End on 25 November. Directed by Murray Macdonald, it starred [[Roland Culver]], [[Coral Browne]], [[Ian Carmichael]], [[Dora Bryan]], [[Ernest Thesiger]] and [[Esma Cannon]], with settings designed by Alan Tagg.<ref>Alan Melville, ''Simon and Laura: A Comedy'', French's Acting Edition no 432, Samuel French Ltd 1955</ref>

According to Frances Stephens, editor of ''Theatre World'', "''Simon and Laura'' has as its amusing central theme the guying of television family serials and the author is well served by the very talented cast."<ref>'Simon and Laura', ''Theatre World'' February 1955</ref> "We have often been taken, with sufficiently comic results, behind the scenes in the playhouse and film studio", noted ''The Stage'', "but it has remained for Mr Melville to exploit television, the latest form of entertainment. He does it very well, though most of the characters are absurd rather than human as we know humanity in the auditorium. The dialogue abounds in lines that arouse an involuntary chuckle or laugh; the situations, if occasionally laboured, are ingenious and hilarious." The play's centerpiece – when the filming of the soap's 200th edition goes disastrously wrong – was referred to as a "glorious free-for-all rumpus before the cameras."<ref>'Stage Tilt at Television: Alan Melville's Simon and Laura', ''The Stage'' 2 December 1954</ref>

Other estimates were less enthusiastic. "The comedy", claimed ''The Times'', "is not, taken as a whole, a particularly good one, but there are a great many quips which will come home to the business and bosoms of [television] viewers."<ref>'The Arts: Strand Theatre', ''The Times'' 26 November 1954</ref> [[Kenneth Tynan]], in ''The Observer'', concluded that "As a mechanical tilt at television, the play is acceptable, though the plot is a rattle of dry bones."<ref>Kenneth Tynan, 'At the Theatre', ''The Observer'' 28 November 1954</ref> Despite these critiques, the play was a success; it moved to the [[Apollo Theatre]] on 14 February 1955 and was seen by HM Queen Elizabeth on 24 March.<ref>'Chit Chat', ''The Stage'' 31 March 1955</ref> In all it ran for six months, closing on 28 May.

The play went out on tour again in the UK from July. At the same time, husband-and-wife team [[John McCallum (actor)|John McCallum]] and [[Googie Withers]] toured it with great success in Australia, playing it in repertory with the [[Terence Rattigan]] drama ''[[The Deep Blue Sea (play)|The Deep Blue Sea]]''.

==Film==
The film version went into production at Pinewood in the first week of June 1955,<ref>C H B Williamson, 'Production', ''To-Day's Cinema'' 6 June 1955</ref> immediately after the play's closure at the Apollo. It opened at the Gaumont Haymarket on 24 November (on a bill with ''[[On Such a Night (1955 film)|On Such a Night]]''), with general release following on 26 December.<ref>F Maurice Speed, ''Film Review 1956–57'', Macdonald & Co 1956</ref>

===Cast===
The cast was headed by [[Peter Finch]], [[Kay Kendall]], [[Ian Carmichael]], [[Muriel Pavlow]], [[Maurice Denham]] and [[Thora Hird]]. The director was [[Muriel Box]]; production design was by [[Carmen Dillon]], costume design by [[Julie Harris (American actress)|Julie Harris]], and the film was shot in [[Technicolor]] and [[VistaVision]] by cinematographer [[Ernest Steward]].

===Production===
It was Finch's first leading role in a British film.<ref>{{cite news|title=MOTION PICTURE ACTIVITIES ALONG THE THAMES: Lawrence of Arabia Biography Looms -- 'Camille' Clicks -- Lady Directors|author=STEPHEN WATTS|date=July 17, 1955|work=New York Times|page=X5}}</ref>

Melville's original was adapted by Peter Blackmore, author of the successful play and film ''Miranda''. With Finch and Kendall in the leads, the titular couple became significantly younger (though dialogue referring to them as theatrical veterans remained). Their agent, a German-accented character called Wolfstein in the play, became a very English one called Bertie Burton; their Canadian scriptwriter, Janet Honeyman, became plain English too. Where the play made reference to such celebrities of the day as film magnate Sir [[Alexander Korda]], actors [[Peter Cushing]] and [[Michael Wilding (actor)|Michael Wilding]] and comedian [[Wee Georgie Wood]], the film was able to incorporate appearances by TV personalities [[Gilbert Harding]], [[Isobel Barnett]], [[Peter Haigh]] and [[George Cansdale]].

===Reception===
"''Simon and Laura'' takes to the screen as a duck to water", announced ''The Times''.<ref>'Television's Ideal Married Couple: Simon and Laura as a film', ''The Times'' 24 November 1955</ref> "Its satire and sophistication make a welcome change", claimed [[Virginia Graham (English writer)|Virginia Graham]] in ''The Spectator'', "and I can heartily recommend it."<ref>Virginia Graham in ''The Spectator'' 25 November 1955</ref> "This Pinewood comedy is full of good jokes at Lime Grove's expense", added ''The Star'',<ref>R Nash in ''The Star'' 25 November 1955</ref> while the ''Daily Worker'' called it "A most efficient exercise in what is now the time-honoured film sport of television baiting."<ref>T Spencer in the ''Daily Worker'' 26 November 1955</ref> In the ''News of the World'' Peter Burnup observed that "''Simon and Laura'' may not turn out to be another ''Genevieve'' or ''Doctor in the House'' but all the same it has plenty of elegance and high spirits", adding, "I have no doubt the BBC will survive the good-humoured leg-pull."<ref>Peter Burnup in the ''News of the World'' 27 November 1955</ref>

"''Simon and Laura'' betrays in its style, method and presentation of sophisticated marital disharmony a diligent admiration for Mr [Noël] Coward's ''[[Private Lives]]''", concluded Fred Majdalany in the ''Daily Mail''. "When he is just being himself Mr Melville is in much better form. Television may be a sitting target, but he gets it well and truly with both barrels."<ref>Fred Majdalany in the ''Daily Mail'' 26 November 1955</ref>

==Television versions==
Melville's TV satire appeared on Danish television (''Simon og Laura'') in December 1955, Swedish television (''Simon och Laura'') in February 1960, and Finnish television (''Simon ja Laura'') in November 1960. Then, almost ten years to the day since its West End premiere, it made it to British TV, via the recently inaugurated channel [[BBC Two|BBC2]], on 19 November 1964.

The director was [[Christopher Morahan]], the producer [[Cedric Messina]], and the settings were designed by William McCrow. [[Ian Carmichael]] was this time cast as the middle-aged Simon rather than the ambitious young BBC producer David Prentice, the role he'd previously played both on stage and film. David was played instead by [[Richard Briers]], with [[Moira Lister]] as Laura.

Melville, who appeared in person to introduce the play, made various changes to his original script, including a self-reflexive rewrite for Simon's initial objections to working on TV: "Television? You call that a wonderful job? Three weeks' rehearsal, not enough money to cover your bus fares out to Lime Grove, technical breakdown in your one big scene, and no repeat performance? No, thank you." For BBC2 this became: "Television? You call that a wonderful job? Three weeks’ rehearsal in a draughty drill hall, technical breakdown in your one big scene, and then your play goes out on BBC2? No, thank you."

Noting this, ''The Stage'' reported that "The script, with its lemon and sugar contrasts and archly sophisticated laughs, had been brought up to date with contemporary references and fitted happily into its new medium."<ref>Susan Kay, 'Television Today Reviews: Simon and Laura', ''The Stage and Television Today'' 26 November 1964</ref> It was repeated on 6 March 1966 but has not been seen since.

==Play cast==
*[[Roland Culver]] – Simon Foster
*[[Coral Browne]] – Laura Foster
*[[Ernest Thesiger]] – Wilson
*[[Esma Cannon]] – Jessie
*[[Ronald Radd]] – Mr Wolfstein ('Wolfie')
*[[Ian Carmichael]] – David Prentice
*[[Dora Bryan]] – Janet Honeyman
*Lance Secretan – Timothy [pre-London tour]
*[[Michael Caridia]] – Timothy [West End]
*David Morrell – Barney
*Kenneth MacLeod – Joe
*Thomas Elliott – Bert
*Vivienne Drummond – Miss Mills
*[[Pauline Stroud]] – Mabel
*Roger Page – Archie
*[[Carole Shelley]] – Angela (added to the play mid-run, not in the published script)

==Film cast==
* [[Peter Finch]] – Simon Foster
* [[Kay Kendall]] – Laura Foster
* [[Muriel Pavlow]] – Janet Honeyman
* [[Hubert Gregg]] – Bertie Burton
* [[Maurice Denham]] – Wilson
* [[Ian Carmichael]] – David Prentice
* [[Richard Wattis]] – Controller of Television Drama
* [[Thora Hird]] – Jessie
* [[Terence Longdon]] – Barney
* Clive Parritt – Timothy
* [[Alan Wheatley]] – Adrian Lee
* [[Beverley Brooks]] – Mabel
* [[Tom Gill (actor)|Tom Gill]] – TV producer
* [[Nicholas Parsons]] – TV producer
* [[David Morrell (actor)|David Morrell]] – TV producer
* [[Joan Hickson]] – barmaid
* [[Charles Hawtrey (actor born 1914)|Charles Hawtrey]] – railway porter
* [[Cyril Chamberlain]] – Bert
* [[Philip Gilbert]] – Joe
* [[Julia Arnall]] – make-up girl (Miss Mills)
* [[Gilbert Harding]] – himself
* [[Isobel Barnett]] – herself
* [[Peter Haigh]] – himself
* [[George Cansdale]] – himself

==TV cast==
* [[Ian Carmichael]] – Simon Foster
* [[Moira Lister]] – Laura Foster
* [[Charles Lloyd-Pack]] – Wilson
* [[Molly Urquhart]] – Jessie
* [[Philo Hauser]] – Wolfie
* [[Richard Briers]] – David Prentice
* [[Penny Morrell]] – Janet Honeyman
* [[Susan Ashworth (actress)|Susan Ashworth]] – Mabel
* [[Henry McGee]] – Bert
* [[Reg Lever]] – Archie
* [[Bruce Wightman]] – Joe
* [[David Jackson (British actor)|David Jackson]] – Barney
* [[Paul Holdaway]] – Timothy
* [[Lesley Allen]] – Miss Mills

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb title|0048621}}
*[http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/533349/index.html ''Simon and Laura''] at [[Screenonline]]

{{Muriel Box}}

[[Category:1955 films]]
[[Category:1955 drama films]]
[[Category:British drama films]]
[[Category:Films about television]]
[[Category:British films based on plays]]
[[Category:Films directed by Muriel Box]]
[[Category:Films scored by Benjamin Frankel]]
[[Category:Films shot at Pinewood Studios]]
[[Category:1950s English-language films]]
[[Category:1950s British films]]

Simon and Laura - Revision history

Kurt at 14:11, 7 February 2023

Kurt at 04:22, 7 February 2023

Kurt: 1 revision imported

en>VoroSP: /* Play cast */