Vice Versa (1948 film)

Infobox Film
name = Vice Versa


image_size = 150px
caption = Petula Clark and Anthony Newley
director = Peter Ustinov
producer = George H. Brown
Peter Ustinov
writer = Peter Ustinov
narrator =
starring = Roger Livesey
Anthony Newley
Petula Clark
Kay Walsh | music = Antony Hopkins
cinematography = Jack Hilyard
editing = John D. Guthridge
distributor = General Film Distributors
released = January 1948
runtime = 111 minutes
country = UK
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0040940

"Vice Versa" is a 1948 British comedy film written and directed by Peter Ustinov. It is the third screen adaptation of the 1882 novel of the same name by F. Anstey. The film was produced by Two Cities Films and distributed by General Film Distributors.

The plot was updated and Americanized for a 1988 version with the same title starring Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage. The 1972 novel "Freaky Friday" by Mary Rodgers, which itself was adapted for the screen in 1976 and 2003, is a variation of the same theme.

Plot

During the British Raj, unscrupulous Marmaduke Paradine (David Hutcheson) steals the Garuda Stone, the magical eye of an Indian idol, which grants one wish to each possessor. He had been warned that the thief of the stone would have bad luck; convinced by the time he returns to England, he gives it to his former brother-in-law, widower Paul Bultitude (Roger Livesey).

Paul, a wealthy stockbroker, cannot understand why his eldest son, Dick (Anthony Newley), is reluctant to return to boarding school after a holiday. Paul recalls the carefree days of his youth and casually wishes he could take Dick's place while holding the stone. As a result, he finds himself looking just like his son. When Dick realizes what has happened, the neglected boy uses his wish to take on his father's appearance, eager to enjoy the perks of being an adult.

Dick sends his protesting father off to school, while he throws parties, flirts with Alice (Patricia Raine), the maid, and even carries on with his father's girlfriend, Fanny Verlayne (Kay Walsh). Meanwhile, Paul's pompous behavior soon antagonizes his classmates and the disciplinarian headmaster, Dr. Grimstone (James Robertson Justice). He also puzzles Grimstone's daughter Dulcie (Petula Clark), who cannot understand why her once-attentive beau seems to be smitten with a much-older Fanny.

Paul escapes the bullying at school and returns home, only to overhear Paradine tell Fanny how he plans to trick Dick into signing away control of his horseless carriage company. He pleads with his son to restore them back to their proper bodies, but Dick cannot remember where he left the stone. Fortunately, Paul finally finds it in the hands of another of his sons and gets him to wish things back. Chastened by his experience, Paul becomes more understanding of Dick's situation.

Cast

*Roger Livesey as Paul Bultitude
*Anthony Newley as Dick Bultitude
*Petula Clark as Dulcie Grimstone
*Kay Walsh as Fanny Verlayne
*Hugh Dempster as Colonel Ambrose
*David Hutcheson as Marmaduke Paradine
*James Robertson Justice as Dr. Grimstone
*Patricia Raine as Alice
*Joan Young as Mrs. Grimstone

Critical response

At the time of its release, the critic for "Daily Mirror" wrote, "Peter Ustinov has deliberately exaggerated in the film. This may bring him into conflict with lovers of the original story. But the fact remains that this spectacular burlesque has many novel touches and gets the laughs. Personally, I enjoyed myself, and I think you will." "Monthly Film Bulletin" said, "It is funny in patches, but goes on far too long; and the director, who also wrote the screenplay, would have been wiser to cut some of his own additions [to the book] . Anthony Newley . . . is excellent in a long and exacting part, and Petula Clark is attractive as the headmaster's daughter, but it is sad to see as good an actor as Roger Livesey with nothing to do but make an ass of himself." ["Petula Clark Film Companion", published by Meeting Point Publications, London, 1998] In later years, Leonard Maltin observed, "Parts of it are silly, but much of it is inspired and hilarious." [ [http://www.petulaclark.net/films/viceversa.html "Vice Versa" at PetulaClark.net] ]

References