The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom

Infobox Film
name = The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom


image_size = 135px
caption = Videotape cover
director = Joseph McGrath
producer = Josef Shaftel
writer = Alec Coppel
Denis Norden
Based on a short story by Josef Shaftel
narrator =
starring = Shirley MacLaine
Richard Attenborough
James Booth
music = Riz Ortolani
cinematography = Geoffrey Unsworth
editing = Ralph Sheldon
distributor = Paramount Pictures
released = September 11, 1968 (USA)
November 21, 1968 (UK)
runtime = 93 minutes
country = United Kingdom
language = English
budget =
gross =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0062739

"The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom" is a 1968 British comedy film directed by Joseph McGrath. The screenplay by Alec Coppel and Denis Norden was adapted from a play by Coppel that was based on a short story by Josef Shaftel, who served as the film's producer.

Plot synopsis

Robert Blossom is a workaholic brassiere manufacturer. When his wife Harriet's sewing machine breaks down, he sends his bumbling employee Ambrose Tuttle to repair it. Mrs. Blossom seduces him, then hides him in the attic, instructing him to sneak out in the middle of the night. Ambrose, however, is enchanted by the woman and decides to settle in to serve as her secret paramour. When he's reported missing, Det. Sgt. Dylan from Scotland Yard is assigned to the case, one he doggedly pursues for years. The mysterious noises Robert frequently hears overhead finally lead to his nervous breakdown, but Ambrose saves the day by passing along stock tips that turn his employer into a millionaire. The grateful Mr. Blossom not only allows Ambrose to remain with his wife, but presents the couple with his factory as a wedding present.

Production notes

Assheton Gorton served as production designer for the film.

Location scenes were filmed in Bloomsbury, at the National Film Theatre in the South Bank Centre, and at Alexandra Palace in London. Interiors were filmed at the Twickenham Film Studios in Middlesex.

The soundtrack includes the songs "The Way That I Live" performed by Jack Jones and "Fall in Love" performed by the New Vaudeville Band.

Frank Thornton, Barry Humphries, and John Cleese make brief appearances in the film.

Principal cast

*Shirley MacLaine ..... Harriet Blossom
*Richard Attenborough ..... Robert Blossom
*James Booth ..... Ambrose Tuttle
*Freddie Jones ... Det. Sgt. Dylan
*Bob Monkhouse ..... Dr. Taylor
*Patricia Routledge ..... Miss Reece

Reception

In his review in the "New York Times", Howard Thompson called the film "roguish, restrained and absurdly likable, with a neat climactic twist." [ [http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9403E0DA1730E034BC4A52DFB4678383679EDE "New York Times" review] ]

"Variety" described it as "a silly, campy and sophisticated marital comedy, always amusing and often hilarious in impact . . . although basically a one-joke story, [the] idea is fleshed out most satisfactorily so as to take undue attention away from the premise. Performances are all very good, Attenborough's in particular." [ [http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117789351.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&p=0 "Variety" review] ]

"Time Out New York" calles it a "coarse comedy which looks a little like Joe Orton gone disastrously wrong . . . any sparks in the script or performances are ruthlessly extinguished by atrocious direction." [ [http://www.timeout.com/film/newyork/reviews/68020/The_Bliss_of_Mrs_Blossom.html "Time Out New York" review] ]

References

External links

*imdb title|id=0062739|title=The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom