The top ten highest grossing films by year from 1940 up to 1959. Charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. It was produced by former doyly carte opera company. Charleys aunt like niagara falls, charleys aunt stands the test of time. In 1890, two students at oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come from. Nutty comedy charleys aunt plays the roxy regional. The supporting players are uniformly superb, including laird cregar and edmund gwenn as the aunts suitors, richard haydn in his first film as charley, and kay. Charleys aunt is a famous british play which for many years was the staple offering of every english high school drama class. Charleys aunt the shakespeare theatre of new jersey. Regarding the two features kay francis completed for 20th centuryfox, charleys aunt 1941 and four jills in a jeep 1944, the financial information available was from aubrey solomons twentieth century fox. His film career is not thought of highly, but some of that is due to jacks own attitude towards his films.
Best jerry lewis dean martin movies 2,102,248 views. Things get much worse when charley s real aunt appears. The uproarious peoplepleasing farce has been adapted to film both silent in 1915 and sound in 1930 with the most. Benny, predating jack lemmons work in some like it hot, is a marvel as the english earl posing as an oxford classmates aunt. Charley s aunt 1941 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Charleys aunt is a threeact farce that, when it premiered in 1892, was so wildly successful that it shattered theater records at the time, becoming the longestrunning play with well over a thousand performances in london, a broadway version, and an international tour it concerns two oxford students, jack and the eponymous charley, who are in love with kitty and amy. Jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, anne baxter. Its good advice, for benny spends most of the movie dressed as a woman, donna lucia, the aunt of his oxford classmate charley. Charley s aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo.
The old theatrical chestnut has some surprisingly modern touches in the form of sexual innuendoes, that only add to. Victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison. Victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their wealthy playboy friend, lord fancourt. Charleys aunt, poster, us poster art, jack benny, kay. Her presence as a chaperone will allow him and his friend jack to ask their respective true loves, amy and kitty, for their hands in marriage. After two soso comedies, play girl and the man who lost himself, kays freelance career needed a new boost.
Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charleys brazilian aunt donna lucia. Stemmle it starred fritz rasp, paul kemp and max gulstorff. In 1934 a german version charley s aunt was released. Signed to a 20th centuryfox film contract in 1940, haydns first film assignment was the comparatively straight role of charley wyckham in charleys aunt 1941. Charleys aunt 1941 stream and watch online moviefone. Charleys rich aunt, donna lucia, is visiting from brazil and the timing couldnt be better. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charleys aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. Charleys aunt teched lights daughter helped at the haymarket theatre, lincoln ne directed by bobbie bonaventure who asked for us specifically. More unabashed hilarity with this hit from the late 19th century.
Complete casting for menier chocolate factorys charleys aunt. Versatile to a fault, haydns film roles ranged from normal, sobersided types like the schoolteacher in the green years 1946, to the despicable british nobleman in forever amber 1946. In fact, charleys aunt has been performed across the globe for over 100 years and has always enchanted audiences. Bennys humor, perhaps a bit subdued for todays audiences, nevertheless shines in charley s aunt.
Charleys aunt jack benny, kay francis ganzerfilm 1941. The opening title card of this film reads, twentieth centuryfox presents jack benny in charleys aunt brandon thomas immortal comedy. Things get much worse when charleys real aunt appears. Titles release date company cinecon year summary confessions of boston blackie 1942 columbia 37 2001 conquest of the north pole 1912 melies 1 1965. However, a kinescope a 16mm film shot off a tv monitor was made to preserve the program. But her role was a supporting one, as much of the story revolves around a young. Sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. Arthur askey took the leading role in a 1940 british film charleys bighearted aunt that developed themes from the original play. The play was first performed at the theatre royal, bury st edmunds in february 1892. In 1934 a german version charleys aunt was released. Released 1941, charley s aunt stars jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, richard haydn the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 21 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic, which. Rock a bye baby 1958 jerry lewis dean martin full length comedy movie duration. Prints of the kinescope circulated in home collector circles. The film even borrows a plot point from the original source material of its theme song.
In it, her character pretends to be something she is not. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Jack benny and richard haydn in charleys aunt 1941 jack benny and edmund gwenn in. The year is 1890, and benny plays babbs babberley, currently in his tenth year at the university. Kay francis gets to play the best character, the real charleys. The 1941 version of charleys aunt would be notable if only because its one of the rare films in which jack benny is playing a real character, rather than a mere extension of his welldeveloped and recognizable personality. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events.
Roxy regional theatre presents the comedy charleys aunt. It remained one of bennys personal favourites among his own films. Keep your voice up and your dress down, someone tells jack benny in charleys aunt 1941. She chose to play the title role in twentieth centuryfoxs charleys aunt 1941. Here we have a promotional short subject advertising jack bennys new film version of charleys aunt 1941. Jack benny stars in this blackandwhite comedy caper from 1941. No videos, backdrops or posters have been added to charleys aunt. June 12th, 2007 not yet rated 1 hr 21 min plot summary. Somewhat a landmark film for 20th centuryfox, as it was the first film they offered the. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of crusty stephen spettigue.
During his life jack benny often joked about the poor quality of many of his films, but charley s aunt doesnt deserve such criticism. Doubtfire to tootsie to uncle miltie, theres nothing more. This comedy will grace our stage for the first time in our 56year history. Extras include a chipper commentary from film historian randy skretvedt who. Here we have a promotional short subject advertising jack bennys new film version of charley s aunt 1941. Charleys aunt dvdr 1941 twentieth century fox film. The film isnt a comic masterwork but its a fun way to spend an hour and a half. Complete with young lovers, mistaken identity, eccentric characters and lots of hilarious twists and turns along the way, the delightfully nutty british farce charleys aunt opens at the roxy regional theatre on friday, july 12, at 8. Charleys aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Clarksville, tn the delightfully nutty british farce charleys aunt opens at the roxy regional theatre on friday, july 12th, at 8. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original london run of 1,466 performances. The play has been adapted for a number of film versions, most notably in 1941 featuring jack benny in.
Staring arleen whelan, morton lowry, laird cregar and edmund gwenn. Jack benny playing with enthusiasm and romping merrily and crazily along the route, takes fullest advantage of laugh. While jack as a british college student only kinda works, jack is still a stitch. Charleys aunt, poster, us poster art, jack benny, kay francis, 1941. Charleys aunt 1930 film charley s aunt is a 1930 american comedy film directed by al christie and starring charles ruggles, june collyer and hugh williams. Arthur askey took the leading role in a 1940 british film charley s bighearted aunt that developed themes from the original play. It was nice to be remembered after working whim for the tavern 2 years prior charleys aunt i saw this years ago and loved it, shame the best roles are male, playing babbs would be great fun. Charleys aunt 1941 film charley s aunt directed by archie mayo starring jack benny release dates august 1, 1941 running time wikipedia. It came from anna helds broadway hit the parisian model. Swiftly paced and nicely timed in its gags and line readings, charleys aunt features one of jack bennys best film performances.
Delightfully nutty comedy charleys aunt plays july 12. In charleys aunt, charley wyckham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison are two students who manage to persuade their colleague fancourt babberly benny to dress in drag and assume the guise of charleys brazilian aunt, donna lucia. Since it was a live broadcast in the days before video, it was only seen on tv that one time. Gallery of 8 movie poster and cover images for charleys aunt 1941. Charleys aunt on dvd 024543440642 from 20th century fox. Victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their. Its high time to unleash this utterly delightful british farce, complete with improbable disguise, young lovers, and an unflappable butler.
A corporate and financial history, published in 1988 by scarecrow filmmaker series. It was the third filmed version of the stage farce of the same name by brandon thomas. It is a rollicking farce about undergraduates at oxford university, one of whom, jack benny, disguises himself as anothers aunt from brazil where the. His radio show is filled with jokes about his film career. Steve has to pretend he is legally crazy to save his marriage. Im charleys aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. Written by brandon thomas and the inspiration for the 1941 film starring jack benny, charleys aunt features ryan bowie and ian alexander erbe as. If you like benny, youll appreciate his twitchy maiden aunt who is quite unlike the real thing, the glamorous kay francis, who is travelling incognito to check out the girl who charley hopes to marry. Charleys aunt 1941 20th centuryfox 19 1983 charlie chan carries on 1931 fox 41 2005 note. Charleys aunt by brandon thomas june 19 through oct 26 from mrs. His enthusiasm makes the film more than the sum of its parts.
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