Smart Alec (1951 British film): Difference between revisions

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===World premiere===
===World premiere===
The play had its world premiere in Sydney in 1941. It was the first presentation from Whitehall Productions, a new theatrical company established by Coppel and Kathleen Robinson.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17756758 |title="MR. SMART GUY.". |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=12 May 1941 |accessdate=4 September 2012 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205152684 |title=Living Up To The "Boom" |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=26,858 |location=Victoria|date=17 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The play had its world premiere in Sydney in 1941. It was the first presentation from Whitehall Productions, a new theatrical company established by Coppel and Kathleen Robinson.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17756758 |title="MR. SMART GUY.". |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=12 May 1941 |accessdate=4 September 2012 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205152684 |title=Living Up To The "Boom" |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=26,858 |location=Victoria|date=17 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The profits from the season went to the Red Cross.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248134394 |title=BACK-STAGE |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |volume=VI, |issue=41 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=9 May 1941 |accessdate=26 September 2019 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>


The original cast was:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205149587 |title=MR. SMART GUY |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=26846 |location=Victoria|date=3 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The original cast was:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205149587 |title=MR. SMART GUY |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=26846 |location=Victoria|date=3 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
⚫
*Harvey Adams as the detective
⚫
*Catherine Duncan
⚫
*Charles Zoli as the porter
*Nigel Lovell as Rex Albion
*Nigel Lovell as Rex Albion
⚫
*Harvey Adams as Detective Inspector Ashley
⚫
*Catherine Duncan as Judith Dyer
⚫
*Charles Zoli as Cossage, the porter
*Richard Parry as Sir Randolph Towle, chief commissioner of police
*Richard Parry as Sir Randolph Towle, chief commissioner of police
*Leslie Victor as the family lawyer Mr Gruppy
*Leslie Victor as the family lawyer Mr Gruppy
*Grant Mclntyre
*Grant McIntyre as Walter
*Charles MeCallum as Mr. Justice Abercorn
*Charles MeCallum as Mr. Justice Abercorn
*Frederick MoMahon as Detective Farr
*Frederick MoMahon as Detective Farr
*John MacDougall
*John MacDougall as Richards
*Phil Smith as Mr Hymie
[[William Constable (designer)|William Constable]] did the design.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17756194 |title=PERMANENT DESIGNERS FOR THEATRE COMPANY |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=32,247 |date=6 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=10 (Women's Supplement) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
[[William Constable (designer)|William Constable]] did the design.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17756194 |title=PERMANENT DESIGNERS FOR THEATRE COMPANY |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=32,247 |date=6 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=10 (Women's Supplement) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' reviewer said those who found ''I Killed the Count'' "such a soundly-constructed and Ingenious murder mystery will find much to entertain them in his latest offering, despite its weakness and it« lack of sustained Interest... The first act drags, and the second loses its necessary punch and development of tension because its couise of drama Is too often Impeded by comic interference. "<ref name="smh">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17756758 |title="MR. SMART GUY." |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=32,252 |date=12 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' reviewer said those who found ''I Killed the Count'' "such a soundly-constructed and Ingenious murder mystery will find much to entertain them in his latest offering, despite its weakness and it« lack of sustained Interest... The first act drags, and the second loses its necessary punch and development of tension because its couise of drama Is too often Impeded by comic interference. "<ref name="smh">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17756758 |title="MR. SMART GUY." |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=32,252 |date=12 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

The ''Daily Telegraph'' called it "delightful entertainment."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article248134570 |title=Smart guy well done |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |volume=II, |issue=26 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=11 May 1941 |accessdate=26 September 2019 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref>


Nonetheless the play was a popular success.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17763847 |title=IN THE THEATRES. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=32,267 |date=29 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Nonetheless the play was a popular success.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17763847 |title=IN THE THEATRES. |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |issue=32,267 |date=29 May 1941 |accessdate=22 October 2017 |page=18 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Line 99: Line 102:


==Production==
==Production==
Coppel made some changes to the play in adapting it including adding another female part.

The film was shot at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x2wdBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=%22smart+alec%22+guillermin&source=bl&ots=gCzJHtVIGi&sig=QGVgI6MYYtRzP9y9pLMJ_vIoJ3Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwit6YbGoYPXAhWCjFQKHTRlCtQQ6AEIVzAL#v=onepage&q=%22smart%20alec%22%20guillermin&f=false|page=123|title=The British 'B' Film|first1=Stephen |last1=Chibnall|first2=Brian|last2=McFarlane|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|date= Oct 23, 2009}}</ref>
The film was shot at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x2wdBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA123&lpg=PA123&dq=%22smart+alec%22+guillermin&source=bl&ots=gCzJHtVIGi&sig=QGVgI6MYYtRzP9y9pLMJ_vIoJ3Q&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwit6YbGoYPXAhWCjFQKHTRlCtQQ6AEIVzAL#v=onepage&q=%22smart%20alec%22%20guillermin&f=false|page=123|title=The British 'B' Film|first1=Stephen |last1=Chibnall|first2=Brian|last2=McFarlane|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|date= Oct 23, 2009}}</ref>


Revision as of 06:13, 26 September 2019

The Smart Aleck
Directed byJohn Guillermin
Written byAlec Coppel
Produced byRoger Proudlock
StarringPeter Reynolds
CinematographyRay Elton
Edited byRobert Jordan Hill
Production
company
Distributed byGrand National Pictures (U.K.)
Release date
March 1951 (U.K.)
Running time
58 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Smart Aleck is a 1951 British crime film directed by John Guillermin and starring Peter Reynolds.[1]

Plot

Young Alec Albion plans successfully to kill his rich uncle with an ice bullet which will melt away, leaving no evidence. He gets an alibi by having the chief commissioner of police living in the same building as his chief witness.

He sets himself up in an apartment overlooking his uncle's. He invites over the new commissioner of police and tells him he has had a premonition about his uncle's murder. The murder is committed. However Alec is exposed.

Cast

Original play: Mr Smart Guy

Mr Smart Guy
Written byAlec Coppel
Date premiered10 May 1941
Place premieredMinerva Theatre, Sydney
Original languageEnglish
Genrethriller

The script was based on a play Mr Smart Guy by Alec Coppel, who wrote it in England at the beginning of the war.[2] They play had originally been called North Light.[3]

Plot

Rex Albion wishes to take possession of a particular flat which is opposite that of his rich uncle. It turns out he plans to kill his uncle and use the chief commissioner of police, who lives in the building, as his alibi.[4]

World premiere

The play had its world premiere in Sydney in 1941. It was the first presentation from Whitehall Productions, a new theatrical company established by Coppel and Kathleen Robinson.[5][6] The profits from the season went to the Red Cross.[7]

The original cast was:[8]

  • Nigel Lovell as Rex Albion
  • Harvey Adams as Detective Inspector Ashley
  • Catherine Duncan as Judith Dyer
  • Charles Zoli as Cossage, the porter
  • Richard Parry as Sir Randolph Towle, chief commissioner of police
  • Leslie Victor as the family lawyer Mr Gruppy
  • Grant McIntyre as Walter
  • Charles MeCallum as Mr. Justice Abercorn
  • Frederick MoMahon as Detective Farr
  • John MacDougall as Richards
  • Phil Smith as Mr Hymie

William Constable did the design.[9]

The Sydney Morning Herald reviewer said those who found I Killed the Count "such a soundly-constructed and Ingenious murder mystery will find much to entertain them in his latest offering, despite its weakness and it« lack of sustained Interest... The first act drags, and the second loses its necessary punch and development of tension because its couise of drama Is too often Impeded by comic interference. "[10]

The Daily Telegraph called it "delightful entertainment."[11]

Nonetheless the play was a popular success.[12]

The play was revived at the Minerva in August 1941 for a three week run with Ron Randell in the lead role and Muriel Steinbeck in the lone female part.[13] The Sydney Morning Herald theatre critic said Randell "failed to explore the subtle aspects of the playwrights study of a criminal exhibitionist."[14]

Radio adaptation

The play was performed on radio on the ABC in May 1941.[15] Max Afford did the adaptation and the original cast reprised their roles.[16]

The play also inspired a song by Sefton Daly which was recorded by Coppel's then-fiancée Myra.[17]

English production

The play was produced in England in 1947 under the title Strange as it May Seem.[18][19]

Production

Coppel made some changes to the play in adapting it including adding another female part.

The film was shot at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.[20]

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin said "the naivety and absurdity of the story is far surpassed by the acting."[21]

References

  1. ^ http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b76d8ef0f
  2. ^ "In the Theatres". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 May 1941. p. 22. Retrieved 4 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "MORE STAGE PLAYS". The Age. No. 26, 852. Victoria, Australia. 10 May 1941. p. 12. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "'MR SMART GUY'". Truth. No. 2679. Sydney. 11 May 1941. p. 32. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ ""MR. SMART GUY."". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 May 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 4 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Living Up To The "Boom"". The Age. No. 26, 858. Victoria. 17 May 1941. p. 12. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "BACK-STAGE". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. VI, , no. 41. New South Wales, Australia. 9 May 1941. p. 16. Retrieved 26 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  8. ^ "MR. SMART GUY". The Age. No. 26846. Victoria. 3 May 1941. p. 20. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "PERMANENT DESIGNERS FOR THEATRE COMPANY". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 247. 6 May 1941. p. 10 (Women's Supplement). Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ ""MR. SMART GUY."". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 252. 12 May 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Smart guy well done". The Daily Telegraph. Vol. II, , no. 26. New South Wales, Australia. 11 May 1941. p. 5. Retrieved 26 September 2019 – via National Library of Australia.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  12. ^ "IN THE THEATRES". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 267. 29 May 1941. p. 18. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "MUSIC AND DRAMA". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 335. 16 August 1941. p. 8. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ ""MR SMART GUY" AT MINERVA". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 340. 22 August 1941. p. 7. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "BROADCASTING". The Argus. Melbourne. 31 May 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 4 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Music AND DRAMA". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 269. 31 May 1941. p. 8. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "IN THE THEATRES". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 32, 279. 12 June 1941. p. 18. Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Coppel's Success". The Sun. No. 11, 491. Sydney. 21 November 1946. p. 9 (LATE FINAL EXTRA). Retrieved 22 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Sydney's Talking About—". The Sydney Morning Herald. 23 January 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 4 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ Chibnall, Stephen; McFarlane, Brian (23 October 2009). The British 'B' Film. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 123.
  21. ^ SMART ALEC Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 18, Iss. 204, (Jan 1, 1951): 253.
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