Laughter in Paradise

Infobox Film
name = Laughter in Paradise


caption = From left to right: Simon Russell, Deniston Russell, Endicott, Agnes Russell, and Herbert Russell toasting the deceased Henry Russell (portrait).
director = Mario Zampi
producer =
writer = Jack Davies
Michael Pertwee
starring = Alastair Sim
George Cole
Fay Compton
Hugh Griffith
Joyce Grenfell
Eleanor Summerfield
John Laurie
Michael Pertwee
music = Stanley Black
cinematography =
editing =
distributor = Associated British Pathe
released = June 13, 1951
runtime = 93 min.
country = UK
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
imdb_id = 0043727

"Laughter in Paradise" is the title of a noted British comedy film with a stellar cast released in 1951. The film stars Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. The film was remade in 1970 as "Some Will, Some Won't".

Plot summary

When wealthy, well-known practical joker Henry Russell (Hugh Griffith) dies, four relatives find out that they stand to inherit considerable sums...provided they commit acts that are completely contrary to their natures. Law-abiding Deniston Russell (Alastair Sim) has to get himself arrested and jailed for 28 days. Difficult, snobbish Agnes Russell (Fay Compton) has to find work as a maid and keep her job long enough to qualify. She ends up with irascible Gordon Webb (John Laurie), who deduces that his new servant has to keep her job for some reason and proceeds to make her life difficult. Simon Russell (Guy Middleton) is a womanizing cad; his task is to marry the first woman he meets. Herbert Russell (George Cole) is assigned to rob the bank where he works.

Cast

*Alastair Sim as Deniston Russell
*Fay Compton as Agnes Russell
*Guy Middleton as Simon Russell
*George Cole as Herbert Russell
*Hugh Griffith as Henry Russell
*Ernest Thesiger as Endicott
*Beatrice Campbell as Lucille Grayson, the woman Simon marries
*Mackenzie Ward as Benson, Simon's butler
*Joyce Grenfell as Elizabeth Robson, Deniston's fiancée
*A. E. Matthews as Sir Charles Robson, Elizabeth's father
*John Laurie as Gordon Webb
*Veronica Hurst as Joan Webb, Gordon's daughter
*Eleanor Summerfield as Sheila Wilcott, Deniston's secretaryA very young Audrey Hepburn makes a brief appearance, playing a cigarette girl. This was Hepburn's first professional appearance on film (save for a brief role in a 1948 Dutch film entitled "Dutch in Seven Lessons"). The filming of the scene in which Hepburn appears (somewhat against her later "type") was later recreated in the 2000 biopic "The Audrey Hepburn Story" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt.

External links

*imdb title|id=0043727|title=Laughter in Paradise
* [http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/591011/index.html screenonline review (including more complete plot synopsis)]