The Good Companions

Infobox Book |
name = The Good Companions


image_caption =
author = J. B. Priestley
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United Kingdom
language = English
genre = Novel
publisher = William Heinemann Ltd
pub_date = 1929
media_type = Print (Hardback)
pages =
isbn = NA
oclc =
preceded_by =
followed_by = Angel Pavement

"The Good Companions" is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley.

Written in 1929, it focuses on the trials and tribulations of a concert party in England between World War I and World War II. It is arguably Priestley's most famous novel, and the work which established him as a national figure. It won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize and was adapted twice into film.

Plot summary

The novel is written in picaresque style, and opens with the middle aged, discontented Jess Oakroyd in the fictional Yorkshire town of Bruddersford. He opts to leave his family and seek adventure "on t'road" (throughout the novel Priestley uses dialect for all non-RP speakers of English). He heads south down the Great North Road.

Intertwined with the story of Oakroyd's travels are those of Elizabeth Trant and Inigo Jollifant, two similarly malcontented individuals. Miss Trant is an upper-middle class spinster and Jollifant is a music teacher at a down-at-heel private school. All three ultimately encounter each other when a failing concert troupe ('The Dinky Doos') decide to disband. The independently wealthy Miss Trant, against the advice of her relatives, decides to subsidise the troupe, now known as 'The Good Companions'. Inigo plays piano, Oakroyd is the odd-job man, and other assorted characters including members of the original troupe: including Jimmy Nunn, Jerry Jerningham and Susie Dean, along with Mr Morton Mitcham (a travelling banjo player whom Inigo met earlier on his own odyssey) have various adventures round the shires of middle England.

After a sabotaged performance, the troupe disband: Jerry marries Lady Partlit, a fan; Susie and Inigo nearly get married; Miss Trant "does" get married and Jess Oakroyd emigrates to Canada.

Literary significance and reception

"The Good Companions" was an instant hit on publication, but was not particularly well regarded by critics. Despite this, it remained popular for over forty years. It then fell out of favour, not only because the novel was written from a (rather old fashioned) middle class perspective but also because it deals with a phenomenon (a travelling music hall troupe) which no longer exists.

Nonetheless, Priestley's ear for dialectical foibles is keen, and many of his constructions (e.g. 'Unkerlathur' for 'Uncle Arthur') are acutely observed. More recently there has been a reappraisal of this and other Priestley works: a new edition of "The Good Companions" appeared in October 2007 with a foreword by Dame Judi Dench, accompanying a reappraisal of the various versions by Ronald Harwood, Andre Previn and Judy Cornwell amongst others.

Film, TV and theatrical adaptations

1931 theatrical adaptation

Priestley collaborated with Edward Knoblock on a stage version of his novel, which opened at His Majesty's Theatre, London on 14 May 1931. It ran for nine months, with Edward Chapman, Edith Sharpe and John Gielgud in the cast.

1933 film version

The first film version appeared hard on the heels of the book. Produced by Gaumont, it starred John Gielgud as Ingo Jollifant, Jessie Matthews as Susie Dean and Edmund Gwenn as Jess Oakroyd.

1957 film version

A Technicolor remake was directed by J. Lee Thompson for Associated British Picture Corporation, and starred Eric Portman as Oakroyd, Celia Johnson as Miss Trant, Joyce Grenfell as Lady Partlit, Janette Scott as Susie Dean, John Fraser as Inigo Jollifant and Rachel Roberts as Elsie and Effie Longstaff. This version updates the narrative and music to the late fifties (with a score by Laurie Johnson) when touring shows were in decline. It did not emulate the success of the book, and signified the end of the novel's popular success. It came to be typified by the contemporaneous Angry Young Men of British stage and screen as the kind of unrealistic depiction of working class Britain they were struggling to be free of.

1974 Musical

On 11 July 1974 a musical version, directed by Braham Murray with a libretto by Ronald Harwood, music by Andre Previn and lyrics by Johnny Mercer (in his last show) opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in London - the same venue of the stage play over forty years earlier (having had it's world premiere at the Palace Theatre in Manchester). The cast included John Mills as Oakroyd, Judi Dench as Miss Trant and Marti Webb as Susie Dean. It was revived in 2000 at the Eureka Theater, San Francisco. In October 2001 it was performed at the York Theatre in New York City as part of the York's "Musicals in Mufti" reading series.

1980 TV version

A Yorkshire Television series appeared in 1980, adapted by Alan Plater. It starred Jan Francis as Susie Dean and Simon Green as Jerry Jerningham. Music composed by David Fanshawe. Executive Producer - David Cunliffe, Producer - Leonard Lewis, Directors - Leonard Lewis and Bill Hays. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0373870/fullcredits 1980 TV version] : IMDB.com website. Retrieved on March 10 2008.]

References

External links

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