| It's Never Too Late | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) U.S. lobby card | |
| Directed by | Michael McCarthy |
| Written by | Edward Dryhurst |
| Based on | play It's Never Too Late by Felicity Douglas |
| Produced by | George Pitcher Jules Simmons |
| Starring | Phyllis Calvert Patrick Barr Susan Stephen Guy Rolfe |
| Cinematography | C. M. Pennington-Richards |
| Edited by | Charles Hasse |
| Music by | Wally Stott Louis Levy |
Production company | Park Lane Films |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Box office | £128,208[1] |
It's Never Too Late is a 1956 British comedy film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Phyllis Calvert, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen and Guy Rolfe.[2] It was based on a 1952 play of the same name by Felicity Douglas.[3]
Plot
Feeling her combative family has long taken her for granted, genteel British housewife Laura Hammond somehow finds time to write a film script amidst the chaos of her home life. Her work catches the attention of a Hollywood producer, and Laura unexpectedly finds herself the author of a hit film. She also finds she can only write when she's surrounded by her dysfunctional family. Eventually, Laura must choose between being a highly paid writer and celebrity or a housewife.
Cast
- Phyllis Calvert as Laura Hammond
- Patrick Barr as Charles Hammond
- Susan Stephen as Tessa Hammond
- Guy Rolfe as Stephen Hodgson
- Jean Taylor Smith as Grannie
- Sarah Lawson as Anne Hammond
- Delphi Lawrence as Mrs Madge Dixon
- Peter Hammond as Tony
- Richard Leech as John Hammond
- Robert Ayres as Leroy Crane
- Peter Illing as Guggenheimer
- Irene Handl as Neighbour
- Sam Kydd Uncredited
- Fred Griffiths as Removal Man (uncredited)
Critical reception
TV Guide noted, "some clever moments, but the film suffers from a staginess that makes it a mildly amusing comedy at best" ;[4] while the Radio Times found it "an amiable comedy...This is very much of its time, with its West End origins masked by skilful art direction, but the period cast is a British film fan's delight: Guy Rolfe, Patrick Barr, Susan Stephen, Irene Handl, and even a young Shirley Anne Field. Director Michael McCarthy whips up a fair old storm in this particular teacup, and, although nothing really happens, there's a great deal of pleasure to be had from watching Calvert attempt to rule over her unruly household."[5]
References
- ↑ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p510
- ↑ "It's Never Too Late (1956) - BFI". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009.
- ↑ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110951943 – via Google Books.
- ↑ "It's Never Too Late". TV Guide.
- ↑ Tony Sloman. "It's Never Too Late". RadioTimes.
External links