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Based on an old British radio show, 'The Brass Monkey' is a fast-paced British mystery and comedy thriller. Caroll Levis stars as a radio personality who attempts to prevent a connoisseur of Buddhist artifacts from stealing the priceless Brass Monkey. The film is littered with stars such as Herbert Lom, Avril Angers and Terry-Thomas, but it is perhaps most famous for being the swansong of the beautiful Carole Landis. She committed suicide soon after completing this film in a scandal that shook the film world. Starring: Caroll Levis, Carole Landis, Herbert Lom and Terry-Thomas. Director: Thornton Freeland. Date of Release: 1948
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Odeon have a print entitled Brass Monkey but the film is also known by the title Lucky Mascot. This comedy thriller has as its backdrop the auditions for and broadcast of The Carroll Levis radio show. In 1948 when the film was made he was a household name in the UK. He appeared in only 3 films and died in 1968 aged only 58.
Carole Landis whose last film this was committed suicide in 1948 at the end of a relationship with a famous actor. Her best film because she was happy at the time of making it was Four Jills in a Jeep, a war time musical made in black and white but full of colourful characters.
Brass Monkey is an oddity and well worth watching for some great OTT performances from the likes of Ernest Thesiger, Avril Angers and Terry-Thomas. There is even a rare appearance of Leslie A Hutchinson simply known as Hutch to his fans. Herbert Lom plays the nasty character with conviction and the right clothes too. Thornton Freeland wrote the screenplay and directed this film (his penultimate) his last being Dear Mr Prohack in 1949.
Was the rare brass money really a lucky mascot for those involved with this film? I think not, but as a period piece is is entertaining and the print used is not bad. I would have liked better sound but with these vintage films this is something you can never guarantee.
The liner notes booklet is good providing plenty of information on the stars of the film. All in all a welcome addition to The Best of British Collection.
Carole Landis whose last film this was committed suicide in 1948 at the end of a relationship with a famous actor. Her best film because she was happy at the time of making it was Four Jills in a Jeep, a war time musical made in black and white but full of colourful characters.
Brass Monkey is an oddity and well worth watching for some great OTT performances from the likes of Ernest Thesiger, Avril Angers and Terry-Thomas. There is even a rare appearance of Leslie A Hutchinson simply known as Hutch to his fans. Herbert Lom plays the nasty character with conviction and the right clothes too. Thornton Freeland wrote the screenplay and directed this film (his penultimate) his last being Dear Mr Prohack in 1949.
Was the rare brass money really a lucky mascot for those involved with this film? I think not, but as a period piece is is entertaining and the print used is not bad. I would have liked better sound but with these vintage films this is something you can never guarantee.
The liner notes booklet is good providing plenty of information on the stars of the film. All in all a welcome addition to The Best of British Collection.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Murder, a brass monkey and a teen who plays Flight of the Bumble Bee on her accordion
1 Dec 2009
Format:DVD
There is an awful charm about this movie from 1948. I thought it couldn't get worse or cornier...and then it did. Don't misunderstand me. Brass Monkey is a comedy murder mystery that is harmless and good-natured. Several of the actors give it their all, like the teenager who plays Flight of the Bumble Bee on her accordion.
The plot is a thin idea that's used to feature a popular British radio personality, Carroll Levis playing himself, and his program of talented discoveries. The plot? It seems that long, long ago three monkeys were made of what was much later discovered to be brass. They disappeared ages ago, but then were rediscovered, separated, lost and now, individually, are worth a lot of money. Two have been "collected." Reuniting them with the third will bring out the worst in both comedy and murder. And all because, after hanky panky at British dockside customs, the third monkey is misplaced in Carroll Levis' office by his ditzy secretary.
Brass Monkey uses this plot to showcase the spirit and heart of show business, with crooks and killings thrown in for contrast. We see a lot of that spirit and heart, and odd talent, amongst those trying out for Levis' radio program. Levis' live broadcast of his show is where everything comes together. The murderer will be discovered, but only after we witness with open mouth two of the worst comedy songs I suspect Terry-Thomas ever performed, as well as that teenager and her bumble bee, a geezer with his musical saw who is madly applauded when he tells us how many children and grandchildren he has, and a contortionist who aims her leotard-covered crotch directly at the camera while Terry-Thomas sings of his love of show business people. There's Avril Anger who uses her own name to play the secretary.... Read more ›
The plot is a thin idea that's used to feature a popular British radio personality, Carroll Levis playing himself, and his program of talented discoveries. The plot? It seems that long, long ago three monkeys were made of what was much later discovered to be brass. They disappeared ages ago, but then were rediscovered, separated, lost and now, individually, are worth a lot of money. Two have been "collected." Reuniting them with the third will bring out the worst in both comedy and murder. And all because, after hanky panky at British dockside customs, the third monkey is misplaced in Carroll Levis' office by his ditzy secretary.
Brass Monkey uses this plot to showcase the spirit and heart of show business, with crooks and killings thrown in for contrast. We see a lot of that spirit and heart, and odd talent, amongst those trying out for Levis' radio program. Levis' live broadcast of his show is where everything comes together. The murderer will be discovered, but only after we witness with open mouth two of the worst comedy songs I suspect Terry-Thomas ever performed, as well as that teenager and her bumble bee, a geezer with his musical saw who is madly applauded when he tells us how many children and grandchildren he has, and a contortionist who aims her leotard-covered crotch directly at the camera while Terry-Thomas sings of his love of show business people. There's Avril Anger who uses her own name to play the secretary.... Read more ›
By King Ludwig
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
A British film oddity from 1949.Really a cinematic excuse to showcase the early 1950s Carroll Levis 'discovery' variety talent shows popular in the UK in the immediate post-war period.Early antecedent of the X Factor, Pop Idol and so on.A silly crime sub-plot about the theft of a brass monkey statuette plays along with the adage "see, hear, speak no evil".Herbert Lom stalks about in a trilby waving a gun and giving a masterclass in ham acting in the absence of a coherent script.Ill fated American actress, Carol Landis in her last film, tries to inject a bit of glamour. Best part about it is a fabulous musical comedy turn by Avril Angers.What an all round fabulous talent she was. Worth a look - especially if you are a fan of musical saws and Terry Thomas singing.
By MARK C. BALE
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Odeon's print leaves a lot to be desired. The first 4 mins is a butchered mess, with some obvious video printed graphic titles in the opening credits. What is worse is during those 4mins we have two different soundtracks running at the same time making it impossible to follow what is being said in either one. Thanks Odeon.
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