Light Up the Sky! (film): Difference between revisions

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'''''Light Up the Sky!''''' is a 1960 British comedy drama film directed by [[Lewis Gilbert]] and starring [[Ian Carmichael]], [[Tommy Steele]] and [[Benny Hill]], and features [[Dick Emery]] in a minor role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7390071f|title=Light up the Sky! (1960)|publisher=}}</ref> It was based on Robert Storey's [[West End theatre|West End]] play ''Touch it Light''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zCm5aNkafSYC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq='Touch+It+Light'+by+Robert+Storey&source=bl&ots=MEjwqXNl59&sig=Y_CCa7Zx2Pf8QMQdNZozrq58-Uc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKnpq8pZzZAhUsK8AKHeCDCjIQ6AEIPTAF#v=onepage&q='Touch+It+Light'+by+Robert+Storey&f=false|title=America's Best, Britain's Finest: A Survey of Mixed Movies|first=John Howard|last=Reid|date=1 March 2006|publisher=Lulu.com|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/494/touch-it-light/production/98m|title=Production of Touch It Light - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref>
'''''Light Up the Sky!''''' is a 1960 British comedy drama film directed by [[Lewis Gilbert]] and starring [[Ian Carmichael]], [[Tommy Steele]] and [[Benny Hill]], and features [[Dick Emery]] in a minor role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7390071f|title=Light up the Sky! (1960)|publisher=}}</ref> <ref>LIGHT UP THE SKY
Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 114. </ref>


It was based on Robert Storey's [[West End theatre|West End]] play ''Touch it Light''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=zCm5aNkafSYC&pg=PA146&lpg=PA146&dq='Touch+It+Light'+by+Robert+Storey&source=bl&ots=MEjwqXNl59&sig=Y_CCa7Zx2Pf8QMQdNZozrq58-Uc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiKnpq8pZzZAhUsK8AKHeCDCjIQ6AEIPTAF#v=onepage&q='Touch+It+Light'+by+Robert+Storey&f=false|title=America's Best, Britain's Finest: A Survey of Mixed Movies|first=John Howard|last=Reid|date=1 March 2006|publisher=Lulu.com|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/494/touch-it-light/production/98m|title=Production of Touch It Light - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}</ref>

It was also known as '''Skywatch'''.
== Plot ==
== Plot ==
This is a series of intertwining stories mixing comedy with tragedy and involving the soldiers assigned to a [[searchlight]] and [[Artillery|gunnery]] unit, somewhere in England, during the [[Second World War]]. Lt. Ogleby ([[Ian Carmichael]]) is the troop officer in charge of a number of such units in the area, and he visits only occasionally to check up on them. Lance Corporal Tomlinson is in charge but he struggles to maintain some kind of order over the other men, and he frequently turns a blind eye to their lack of discipline and even their local thieving. Camp comic Syd McGaffey tries to keep up with the romantic antics of his younger brother Eric who comes back from a short leave and announces that he has got married, but then soon takes up with a local girl and gets her pregnant, falling foul of her father. Green is a widower with a son serving overseas and he eagerly maintains a correspondence with him. Smith is lovesick and unhappy over a misunderstanding with his girlfriend and eventually goes [[AWOL]] to get to see her. Kenyon is the unit's cook and a father of six children, and he has ambitions to get a posting to a catering unit. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviefone.com/movie/light-up-the-sky/1065498/synopsis |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-04-12 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404121038/http://www.moviefone.com/movie/light-up-the-sky/1065498/synopsis |archivedate= 4 April 2012 |df= }}</ref>
This is a series of intertwining stories mixing comedy with tragedy and involving the soldiers assigned to a [[searchlight]] and [[Artillery|gunnery]] unit, somewhere in England, during the [[Second World War]].
Lt. Ogleby ([[Ian Carmichael]]) is the troop officer in charge of a number of such units in the area, and he visits only occasionally to check up on them. Lance Corporal Tomlinson is in charge but he struggles to maintain some kind of order over the other men, and he frequently turns a blind eye to their lack of discipline and even their local thieving. Camp comic Syd McGaffey tries to keep up with the romantic antics of his younger brother Eric who comes back from a short leave and announces that he has got married, but then soon takes up with a local girl and gets her pregnant, falling foul of her father. Green is a widower with a son serving overseas and he eagerly maintains a correspondence with him. Smith is lovesick and unhappy over a misunderstanding with his girlfriend and eventually goes [[AWOL]] to get to see her. Kenyon is the unit's cook and a father of six children, and he has ambitions to get a posting to a catering unit. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.moviefone.com/movie/light-up-the-sky/1065498/synopsis |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-04-12 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404121038/http://www.moviefone.com/movie/light-up-the-sky/1065498/synopsis |archivedate= 4 April 2012 |df= }}</ref>


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 40: Line 46:
* [[Sheila Hancock]] as Theatre Act
* [[Sheila Hancock]] as Theatre Act
* [[Fred Griffiths (actor)|Fred Griffiths]] as Mr. Jennings
* [[Fred Griffiths (actor)|Fred Griffiths]] as Mr. Jennings
==Production==
It was based on a play ''Touch It Light'' which premiered in 1959.<ref>AUTHOR'S GENUINE SENTIMENT: "Touch it Light"
The Guardian 9 Sep 1959: 5. </ref>


Producer and director Lewis Gilbert liked it and arranged for it to be filmed. "There have been countless films featuring heroic officers and I feel it is time the ordinary private is given his due," said Gilbert.<ref name="gil"/>

Victor Maddern and Harry Locke play the roles they played on stage.

It was Tommy Steele's first dramatic role. [[Lionel Bart]] who wrote songs for Steele's first three films, wrote a song for this film called "Touch It Light" which Steele performs with Hill.<ref name="gil">Light Up The Sky
Nepean, Edith. Picture Show; London (Mar 26, 1960): 6. </ref>
==Critical reception==
==Critical reception==
The ''Guardian'' called it "small, sensible and somehow touching film with a whiff of authenticity about it."<ref>A case of bigotry
Our Film Critic. The Guardian 9 July 1960: 3. </ref>

The ''[[Radio Times]]'' dismissed the film as a "hackneyed theatrical hand-me-down";<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/film/fbvcjw/light-up-the-sky/
The ''[[Radio Times]]'' dismissed the film as a "hackneyed theatrical hand-me-down";<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/film/fbvcjw/light-up-the-sky/
</ref> ''[[Allmovie]]'' called it an "unexceptional comedy";<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/light-up-the-sky!-v99597|title=Light Up the Sky! (1960) - Lewis Gilbert - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> ''[[TV Guide]]'' called it "pointless," but noted that "Comedian Hill exhibits the form that would later make him a popular television star in both the UK and US.," and admitted to finding the film "occasionally amusing";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/light-up-the-sky/review/104277/|title=Light Up The Sky|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> but ''[[Film Threat]]'' called it "A great little wartime drama," and asked, "Why isn't this gem better known? ";<ref>Why isn't this gem better known? https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/light_up_the_sky/</ref> and Peter Burnett noted, "for British nostalgia fans and cineastes in general, it will be a fabulous treat."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peterburnett.info/lewis-gilbert/248-light-up-the-sky-1960|title=Light up the Sky! (1960)|first=Peter|last=Burnett|publisher=}}</ref>
</ref> ''[[Allmovie]]'' called it an "unexceptional comedy";<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/light-up-the-sky!-v99597|title=Light Up the Sky! (1960) - Lewis Gilbert - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}}</ref> ''[[TV Guide]]'' called it "pointless," but noted that "Comedian Hill exhibits the form that would later make him a popular television star in both the UK and US.," and admitted to finding the film "occasionally amusing";<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/light-up-the-sky/review/104277/|title=Light Up The Sky|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref> but ''[[Film Threat]]'' called it "A great little wartime drama," and asked, "Why isn't this gem better known? ";<ref>Why isn't this gem better known? https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/light_up_the_sky/</ref> and Peter Burnett noted, "for British nostalgia fans and cineastes in general, it will be a fabulous treat."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://peterburnett.info/lewis-gilbert/248-light-up-the-sky-1960|title=Light up the Sky! (1960)|first=Peter|last=Burnett|publisher=}}</ref>
Line 52: Line 70:
*{{Amg movie|99597|Light Up the Sky!}}
*{{Amg movie|99597|Light Up the Sky!}}
*{{tcmdb title|id=81394|title=Light Up the Sky!}}
*{{tcmdb title|id=81394|title=Light Up the Sky!}}
*[https://letterboxd.com/film/light-up-the-sky/ Light Up the Sky] at Letterbox DVD

*[https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7390071f Light Up the Sky] at BFI
{{Lewis Gilbert}}
{{Lewis Gilbert}}


Revision as of 11:55, 7 April 2019

Light Up the Sky!
British quad poster by Stevens
Directed byLewis Gilbert
Written byVernon Harris
Produced byLewis Gilbert
StarringIan Carmichael
Tommy Steele
Benny Hill
CinematographyJohn Wilcox
Edited byPeter Tanner
Music byDouglas Gamley
Distributed byBryanston Films (UK)
Continental Distributing (USA)
Release date
  • 4 December 1961 (1961-12-04) (Denmark)
Running time
90 mins.[1]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Light Up the Sky! is a 1960 British comedy drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Ian Carmichael, Tommy Steele and Benny Hill, and features Dick Emery in a minor role.[2] [3]

It was based on Robert Storey's West End play Touch it Light.[4][5]

It was also known as Skywatch.

Plot

This is a series of intertwining stories mixing comedy with tragedy and involving the soldiers assigned to a searchlight and gunnery unit, somewhere in England, during the Second World War.

Lt. Ogleby (Ian Carmichael) is the troop officer in charge of a number of such units in the area, and he visits only occasionally to check up on them. Lance Corporal Tomlinson is in charge but he struggles to maintain some kind of order over the other men, and he frequently turns a blind eye to their lack of discipline and even their local thieving. Camp comic Syd McGaffey tries to keep up with the romantic antics of his younger brother Eric who comes back from a short leave and announces that he has got married, but then soon takes up with a local girl and gets her pregnant, falling foul of her father. Green is a widower with a son serving overseas and he eagerly maintains a correspondence with him. Smith is lovesick and unhappy over a misunderstanding with his girlfriend and eventually goes AWOL to get to see her. Kenyon is the unit's cook and a father of six children, and he has ambitions to get a posting to a catering unit. [6]

Cast

Production

It was based on a play Touch It Light which premiered in 1959.[7]

Producer and director Lewis Gilbert liked it and arranged for it to be filmed. "There have been countless films featuring heroic officers and I feel it is time the ordinary private is given his due," said Gilbert.[8]

Victor Maddern and Harry Locke play the roles they played on stage.

It was Tommy Steele's first dramatic role. Lionel Bart who wrote songs for Steele's first three films, wrote a song for this film called "Touch It Light" which Steele performs with Hill.[8]

Critical reception

The Guardian called it "small, sensible and somehow touching film with a whiff of authenticity about it."[9]

The Radio Times dismissed the film as a "hackneyed theatrical hand-me-down";[10] Allmovie called it an "unexceptional comedy";[11] TV Guide called it "pointless," but noted that "Comedian Hill exhibits the form that would later make him a popular television star in both the UK and US.," and admitted to finding the film "occasionally amusing";[12] but Film Threat called it "A great little wartime drama," and asked, "Why isn't this gem better known? ";[13] and Peter Burnett noted, "for British nostalgia fans and cineastes in general, it will be a fabulous treat."[14]

References

  1. ^ "LIGHT UP THE SKY - British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk.
  2. ^ "Light up the Sky! (1960)".
  3. ^ LIGHT UP THE SKY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 27, Iss. 312, (Jan 1, 1960): 114.
  4. ^ Reid, John Howard (1 March 2006). "America's Best, Britain's Finest: A Survey of Mixed Movies". Lulu.com – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Production of Touch It Light - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  6. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. ^ AUTHOR'S GENUINE SENTIMENT: "Touch it Light" The Guardian 9 Sep 1959: 5.
  8. ^ a b Light Up The Sky Nepean, Edith. Picture Show; London (Mar 26, 1960): 6.
  9. ^ A case of bigotry Our Film Critic. The Guardian 9 July 1960: 3.
  10. ^ http://www.radiotimes.com/film/fbvcjw/light-up-the-sky/
  11. ^ "Light Up the Sky! (1960) - Lewis Gilbert - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  12. ^ "Light Up The Sky". TVGuide.com.
  13. ^ Why isn't this gem better known? https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/light_up_the_sky/
  14. ^ Burnett, Peter. "Light up the Sky! (1960)".


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