Glad Tidings (film)
{{short description|1953 film by Wolf Rilla}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Glad Tidings
| image = Glad_Tidings_(1953_film).jpg
| caption =
| director = Wolf Rilla
| producer = Victor Hanbury
John Bremer
executive:
Nat Cohen
Stuart Levy
| writer = Wolf Rilla
| based_on = play by R. F. Delderfield
| starring = Barbara Kelly
Raymond Huntley
Ronald Howard
Jean Lodge
| music = Wolf Rilla
| cinematography = Eric Cross
| editing = Peter Seabourne
| studio = Insignia Films
| distributor = Eros Films {{small|(UK)}}
| released = {{Film date|df=y|1953|08||UK}}
| runtime = 67 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
| gross =
}}
Glad Tidings is a 1953 British second feature ('B'){{Cite book |last=Chibnall |first=Steve |title=The British 'B' Film |last2=McFarlane |first2=Brian |publisher=BFI/Bloomsbury |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-8445-7319-6 |location=London |pages=99}} comedy film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Barbara Kelly, Raymond Huntley and Ronald Howard.{{Cite web |title=Glad Tidings |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150028571 |access-date=24 December 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}{{cite web |title=Glad Tidings! (1953) |url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ab36339 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309061536/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6ab36339 |archive-date=9 March 2016 |website=British Film Institute |publisher=}} It was written by Rilla based on the play of the same title by R. F. Delderfield.
Plot
A retired RAF officer returns home to his sleepy little rural community with an attractive new American fiancée, to the initial resentment of his children.
Cast
- Barbara Kelly as Kay Stuart
- Raymond Huntley as Tom Forester
- Ronald Howard as Corporal Nicholas Brayne
- Jean Lodge as Celia Forester
- Terence Alexander as Flight Lieutenant Spud Cusack
- Diana Calderwood as Josephine Forester
- Laurence Payne as Clive Askham
- Arthur Howard as Mr. Boddington
- Brian Smith as Derek Forester
- Yvette Wyatt as Miggs Forester
- Doris Yorke as Mrs. Boddington
- Stella Richman as Anna
- Harry Green as the golfer
- John Warren as club barman
- Louis Matto as waiter
- Peter Forbes-Robertson as reception clerk
Production
The film was made at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, England, and on location. Art direction was by John Stoll. It was a rare early comedy from Anglo Amalgamated.{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|date=12 January 2025|access-date=12 January 2025|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/forgotten-british-moguls-nat-cohen-part-one-1905-56/|title=Forgotten British Moguls: Nat Cohen – Part One (1905-56)}}
Critical reception
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A slow moving and not very amusing screen version of R. F. Delderfield's domestic comedy. The playing on the whole is adequate, and Raymond Huntley, as usual, gives a polished performance."{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1953 |title=Glad Tidings |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305819313 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=20 |issue=228 |pages=149 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}
Kine Weekly wrote: "The picture, which depends more on situation and dialogue than action for its fun, is smoothly portrayed by Barbara Kelly, Raymond Huntley, Ronald Howard and a host of sound supporting players, and their sure timing more than atones for its lack of movement. Jolly and sentimentally refreshing, it makes its point without wearing out shoe leather."{{Cite journal |date=13 August 1953 |title=Glad Tidings |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2738574090 |journal=Kine Weekly |volume=437 |issue=2407 |pages=14 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}
Picturegoer wrote: "Entertaining enough in parts, but so theatrical that you can almost hear the rattle of matinée teacups."{{Cite journal |date=2 October 1953 |title=Glad Tidings |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1705155433 |journal=Picturegoer |volume=26 |issue= |pages=21 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}
Picture Show called the film "an amusing light comedy."{{Cite journal |date=3 October 1953 |title=Glad Tidings |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1879641499 |journal=Picture Show |volume=61 |issue=1592 |pages=10 |url-access=subscription |via=ProQuest}}
TV Guide wrote: "Plodding domestic trifle."{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/glad-tidings/review/124616/|title=Glad Tidings|website=TVGuide.com}}
Sky Cinema said that the film provided "Raymond Huntley and Barbara Kelly (Bernard Braden's wife) with rare leading roles in a feature film. Huntley gets a chance to break away from his stuffy bureaucrats and he's a pleasure to watch."{{cite web |title=Glad Tidings |url=http://www.sky.com/tv/movie/glad-tidings-1953 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901030926/http://www.sky.com/tv/movie/glad-tidings-1953 |archive-date=1 September 2017 |website=Sky Cinema |publisher=}}
References
External links
- {{IMDb title|0215809}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120713182144/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6ab36339 Glad Tidings] at BFI
{{Wolf Rilla}}
Category:British black-and-white films
Category:Films directed by Wolf Rilla
Category:Films shot at Nettlefold Studios
Category:British films based on plays
Category:Films shot in England