Davy (film)

Davy
British theatrical poster
Directed by	Michael Relph
Written by	William Rose
Produced by	Basil Dearden
Starring	Harry Secombe Alexander Knox Ron Randell
Cinematography	Douglas Slocombe
Edited by	Peter Tanner
Production company	Ealing Studios
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	2 January 1958
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$458,000
Box office	$305,000

Davy is a 1958 British comedy-drama film directed by Michael Relph and starring Harry Secombe, Alexander Knox and Ron Randell. It was the last comedy to be made by Ealing Studios and had the distinction of being the first British film in Technirama. Davy was intended to launch the solo career of Harry Secombe, who was already a popular British radio personality on The Goon Show, but it was only moderately successful.

Plot

A young entertainer is conflicted over the chance of a big break. He has to decide whether to remain with his family's music hall act or to go solo.

Main cast

• Harry Secombe as Davy Morgan
• Alexander Knox as Sir Giles Manning
• Ron Randell as George
• George Relph as Uncle Pat Morgan
• Susan Shaw as Gwen
• Bill Owen as Eric
• Isabel Dean as Miss Helen Carstairs
• Adele Leigh as Joanna Reeves
• Peter Frampton as Tim
• Joan Sims as Tea Lady
• Gladys Henson as Beatrice, Tea Lady
• George Moon as Jerry
• Clarkson Rose as Mrs. Magillicuddy
• Kenneth Connor as Herbie
• Liz Fraser as Tea Lady
• Charles Lamb as Henry
• Arnold Marlé as Mr. Winkler
• Campbell Singer as Stage Doorkeeper

Peter Frampton, who plays young Tim, was the son of Harry Frampton, makeup artist for many years at Ealing including in this film. Peter would eventually follow in his father's footsteps and worked as his assistant on several films, including Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972). In 1995, Peter Frampton won the Oscar for Best Makeup for Braveheart. He remembered his filming on Davy fondly, as "it meant time off school and (getting the) star treatment."

Reception

Box office

According to MGM records, the film earned only $40,000 in the US and Canada and $265,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss of $279,000.

Critical

TV Guide called the film a "pleasant if unimpressive drama"; Britmovie wrote, "stylistically the film is an awkward combination of broad farce, Secombe having made his name as one of the denizens of the celebrated Goon Show, and awkward, turgid scenes of moral conflict"; while Allmovie noted, "a stellar supporting cast enables Davy to overcome its occasional banalities and cliches."

External links

• Davy at IMDb
• Review of film at Variety