Trottie True
| Trottie True | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Brian Desmond Hurst |
| Produced by | Hugh Stewart |
| Written by | Denis Freeman |
| Based on | a play by S.J. Simon and Caryl Brahms |
| Starring |
Jean Kent James Donald Hugh Sinclair |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
| Cinematography | Harry Waxman |
| Edited by | Ralph Kemplen |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | General Film Distributors (UK) |
Release dates | 9 August 1949 (London)(UK) |
Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Trottie True is a 1949 British musical comedy film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Jean Kent, James Donald and Hugh Sinclair.[1] Adapted from a play by Caryl Brahms and S. J. Simon, it tells the story of Trottie True, a Gaiety Girl of the 1890s who, after a brief romance with a balloonist, marries Lord Digby Landon, becoming Duchess of Wellwater when he succeeds to the dukedom.[2] It was known as The Gay Lady in the U.S., and is a rare British Technicolour film of the period. According to the BFI Screenonline, "British 1940s Technicolor films offer an abundance of visual pleasures, especially when lovingly restored by the National Film Archive. Trottie True is not among the best known, but comes beautifully packaged, gift wrapped with all the trimmings." [3]
Cast
- Jean Kent - Trottie True
- James Donald - Lord Digby Landon (later Duke of Wellwater)
- Hugh Sinclair - Maurice Beckenham
- Lana Morris - Bouncie Barrington
- Andrew Crawford - Sid Skinner
- Bill Owen - Joe Jugg
- Michael Medwin - Marquis of Maidenhead
- Joan Young - Mrs True
- Harold Scott - Mr True
- Anthony Halfpenny - Perce True
- Daphne Anderson - Bertha True
- Katharine Blake - Ruby Rubarto
- Philip Strange - Earl of Burney
- Darcy Conyers - Claude
- Josef Ramart - Monty's Chauffeur (uncredited)
- Francis de Wolff - George Edwardes
- Campbell Cotts - Saintsbury, the butler
- Harcourt Williams - Duke of Wellwater (Digby's father)
- Mary Hinton - Duchess of Wellwater (Digby's mother)
- Christopher Lee as Hon. Bongo Icklesham
Production
Production of the film was interrupted by a strike from crew members in protest over recent sackings of film workers.[4]
Critical reception
- The New York Times noted "the professional and romantic rise of Trottie True as depicted in "The Gay Lady," which arrived from England at the Sixtieth Street Trans-Lux on Saturday. But this Technicolored rags to riches ascent, which is interlarded with song and dance turns, is something less than original and rarely sprightly. Trottie True's tale is an old one and it hasn't worn well with the years." [5]
- Leonard Maltin rated the film two and a half out of four stars, and called it a "lightweight costume picture...most notable aspect of film is its stunning use of Technicolor. Look fast for Christopher Lee as a dapper stage-door Johnnie." [6]
References
- ↑ "BFI | Film & TV Database | TROTTIE TRUE (1948)". Ftvdb.bfi.org.uk. 2009-04-16. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
- ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Trottie True (1948)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
- ↑ "BFI Screenonline: Trottie True (1948)". Screenonline.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
- ↑ "FILM STRIKE.". Sunday Times (Perth, WA : 1902 - 1954) (Perth, WA: National Library of Australia). 31 October 1948. p. 12 Section: The Sunday Times Sporting Section. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
- ↑ "Movie Review - - THE SCREEN IN REVIEW; 'The Gay Lady,' British Film Depicting Rise of Music Hall Performer, at 60th Street Trans-Lux". NYTimes.com. 1951-04-16. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
- ↑ "Trottie True (1949) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved 2014-06-15.
External links
- Trottie True at the Internet Movie Database
- Trottie True at BFI Screenonline
- Trottie True at the website dedicated to Brian Desmond Hurst
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