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Love s A Luxury (1952) stars Hugh Wakefield, Derek Bond and Helen Shingler in a light comedy originally written as a stage farce. A theatre producer and actor try in vain to have a quiet week in a country cottage. But their efforts turn into comic disaster as a variety of wives, girlfriends and scoutmasters arrive uninvited. Also featured is What A Carry On! (1949) in which northern comedy greats, Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss decide to enlist in the army. Their singing sergeant-major, the Irish tenor Josef Locke, misappropriates the mess funds. When he picks on Jewel and Warriss, the duo s comic routines come thick and fast.This film was another blockbuster for Mancunian Studios but was considered lost until a poor quality print was uncovered. This shortened version is the only record of the Jewel and Warriss partnership. Despite its variable quality, it has been added as a bonus feature for their many fans.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
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It is a pity that these films have insufficient market for a proper restoration, and bits of film are missing especially at reel ends, but what we have is a delightful set of films reflecting the humour of the Northern variety theatre circuit.
I agree with the first reviewer regarding the extra film What a Carry On - the story does get lost over the stolen money, but Jewel and Wariss on film are a delight. There are similarities to the work of Morecambe and Wise later on. Towards the start of the film watch for a historic shot as the army lorry drives down what is now Piccadilly Approach from the railway station towards Market Street, Manchester.
Love's a Luxury is a film version of a stage farce. These are a past peculiarity of English theatre, not liked by many modern sophisticates, and never seem to translate to the cinema very well. What is missing is the live audience laughter and the ambience of an unsophisticated audience out for some entertainment.
The humour is not crude, not insulting, but you can feel the silence where an audience in a theatre would react. How many viewers of the film react to - or notice- the scoutmaster borrowing an egg and saying (referring to repaying the borrow) he will "bring it up" later on.
Hugh Wakefield as the theatre producer is a fine actor, in some ways very similar to the later Arthur Lowe, whilst the scoutmaster is not very far from a young Leslie Philips. The young actress is well played by the late Zena Marshall, an unusual film to find her in, she did very little comedy.
These films may have limited appeal in todays loud and rushed world, but are certainly worth a viewing for anyone interested in the Northern variety acts, the Manchester film studios, or anyone who wants a quiet break from modern chaos,
I agree with the first reviewer regarding the extra film What a Carry On - the story does get lost over the stolen money, but Jewel and Wariss on film are a delight. There are similarities to the work of Morecambe and Wise later on. Towards the start of the film watch for a historic shot as the army lorry drives down what is now Piccadilly Approach from the railway station towards Market Street, Manchester.
Love's a Luxury is a film version of a stage farce. These are a past peculiarity of English theatre, not liked by many modern sophisticates, and never seem to translate to the cinema very well. What is missing is the live audience laughter and the ambience of an unsophisticated audience out for some entertainment.
The humour is not crude, not insulting, but you can feel the silence where an audience in a theatre would react. How many viewers of the film react to - or notice- the scoutmaster borrowing an egg and saying (referring to repaying the borrow) he will "bring it up" later on.
Hugh Wakefield as the theatre producer is a fine actor, in some ways very similar to the later Arthur Lowe, whilst the scoutmaster is not very far from a young Leslie Philips. The young actress is well played by the late Zena Marshall, an unusual film to find her in, she did very little comedy.
These films may have limited appeal in todays loud and rushed world, but are certainly worth a viewing for anyone interested in the Northern variety acts, the Manchester film studios, or anyone who wants a quiet break from modern chaos,
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
I bought this DVD in order to see What A Carry On!, one of two films starring northern comedy duo Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss. Here the decide to enlist in the Army for no good reason other than to send up the Armed Forces.
Of the two Jewel and Warriss titles (the other is Stick 'Em Up avaialbe as a double bill with The Penny Pool) this is the better, and shows off their act to good advantage, especially when in the company of their Sergeant-major played by singer Josef Locke.
However the comedy is put on hold when they introduce a plot about some missing money which doesn't even make sense - the culprit is proven to be the Sergeant-major who bizarrely is then allowed to carry on doing his job even though he is under arrest!
So one for Jewel and Warriss fans only. The only problem is the quality of the print which is so badly cut up in some parts the dialogue is almost unintelligible. But it is the only known print so there's no choice but at least some record of Jewel and Warriss at their peak has survived.
The second film in this double bill is Love's A Luxury which was made at the same studios (The Mancurian Film Studios). It is an pleasant but over-long farce based on a successful stage play starring Derek Bond, Michael Medwin and Leslie Phillips precursor Bill Shine.
Of the two Jewel and Warriss titles (the other is Stick 'Em Up avaialbe as a double bill with The Penny Pool) this is the better, and shows off their act to good advantage, especially when in the company of their Sergeant-major played by singer Josef Locke.
However the comedy is put on hold when they introduce a plot about some missing money which doesn't even make sense - the culprit is proven to be the Sergeant-major who bizarrely is then allowed to carry on doing his job even though he is under arrest!
So one for Jewel and Warriss fans only. The only problem is the quality of the print which is so badly cut up in some parts the dialogue is almost unintelligible. But it is the only known print so there's no choice but at least some record of Jewel and Warriss at their peak has survived.
The second film in this double bill is Love's A Luxury which was made at the same studios (The Mancurian Film Studios). It is an pleasant but over-long farce based on a successful stage play starring Derek Bond, Michael Medwin and Leslie Phillips precursor Bill Shine.
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