An oxford undergraduate student, charley is in love with amy spettigue. 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, respectively. Spettigue halliwell hobbes, a very strict guardian who wont let them see the young men. Benny, predating jack lemmon s work in some like it hot, is a marvel as the english earl posing as an oxford classmate s aunt. Charley s aunt jack benny, kay francis ganzer film 1941 hd kusuma entertainment. But without a chaperone, they cant meet their girls, amy and kitty. Stemmle it starred fritz rasp, paul kemp and max gulstorff. Jack benny starred in the 1941 movie version, which is fairly wellregarded. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charley s aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. Our fall farce, charley s aunt a hilarious farce written by brandon thomas and directed by ed knights. In fact, charleys aunt has been performed across the globe for over 100 years and has always enchanted audiences.
Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of crusty stephen spettigue. Things get much worse when charley s real aunt appears. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of. Jack benny playing with enthusiasm and romping merrily and crazily along the route, takes fullest advantage of laugh opportunities. The uproarious peoplepleasing farce has been adapted to film both silent in 1915 and sound in 1930 with the most famous cinematic version starring jack benny in 1941. Charleys tante is a 1934 german comedy film directed by robert a. Like niagara falls, charleys aunt stands the test of time. Jack and charley, undergraduates at oxford, have each fallen in love. By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charleys aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. The opening title card of this film reads, twentieth centuryfox presents jack benny in charley s aunt brandon thomas immortal comedy. Overview of charleys aunt, 1941, directed by archie mayo, with jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, at turner classic movies. Charleys aunt the winnipesaukee playhousemeredith nh. It was the third filmed version of the stage farce of the same name by brandon thomas. I suppose like most people, i first saw charleys aunt, brandon thomas.
Kay francis gets to play the best character, the real charleys aunt. Charley s aunt 1941 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their wealthy playboy friend, lord fancourt babberly. Jack benny is charleys aunt, in this 1941 film version of the famous play, one of several film recreations that exist. Charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. This comedy will grace our stage for the first time in our 56year history.
Sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. The play was first performed at the theatre royal, bury st edmunds on 29 february 1892. The winnipesaukee playhouse professional company presents charleys aunt. 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. 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. Swiftly paced and nicely timed in its gags and line readings, charleys aunt features one of jack bennys best film performances. Charley s aunt on dvd 024543440642 from 20th century fox. Staring arleen whelan, morton lowry, laird cregar and edmund gwenn. The song long thought to be just one of those obscurities from the mythical great american songbook is actually from a 1948 broadway musical, wheres charley. Jack benny masquerades as charleys aunt and gets involved in several scrapes while a student at oxford. Charleys aunt jack benny, kay francis ganzerfilm 1941. Fancourt must pose as the elderly aunt of his roommate charley wyckeham so that charley and his friend jack chesney will.
But her role was a supporting one, as much of the story revolves around a young. Ben ames williams to write a vehicle for stirling hayden dealing with cape cod world premiere opens film arrives at the criterion today charley s aunt to. Swiftly paced and nicely timed in its gags and line readings, charley s aunt features one of jack benny s best film performances. The opening title card of this film reads, twentieth centuryfox presents jack benny in charleys aunt brandon thomas immortal comedy. Stemmle and starring fritz rasp, paul kemp, and max gulstorff. Charley and jack pressure fellow student fancourt to pose as charleys brazilian aunt. Charley and jack pressure fellow student fancourt to pose as charley s brazilian aunt. Luckily, charley s aunt from brazil where the nuts come from is coming for a visit. Charleys aunt the shakespeare theatre of new jersey. His radio show is filled with jokes about his film career. Charley s aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charley s aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from.
After two soso comedies, play girl and the man who lost himself, kays freelance career needed a new boost. His enthusiasm makes the film more than the sum of it s parts. Charleys aunt 1941 film charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical. His enthusiasm makes the film more than the sum of its parts. While best known for his tv work, including drop the dead donkey, ballykissangel and wild at heart, as well as the awardwinning dci banks which is based on the series of novels by peter robinson, tompkinson also appeared in 1996 hit film brassed off and his stage roles have included spamalot, charleys aunt and, mostly recently, a tour of art which brought him to theatre royal in march. The complications of the plot include the arrival of the real aunt and the attempts of an elderly fortune hunter to woo the bogus aunt. The play was first performed at the theatre royal, bury st edmunds in february 1892.
Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charley s brazilian aunt donna lucia. She chose to play the title role in twentieth centuryfoxs charleys aunt 1941. It remained one of bennys personal favourites among his own films. In 1934 a german version charleys aunt was released. Jack chesneys father, colonel chesney is visiting his son at oxford. Perhaps the best known film version was released in 1941, directed by archie mayo and starring jack benny in the title role. More unabashed hilarity with this hit from the late 19th century. Gallery of 8 movie poster and cover images for charleys aunt 1941. Things get much worse when charleys real aunt appears. In 1890, two students at oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come from. Things get even more silly as babbs is soon being hounded by suitors interested in the aunts considerable fortune. Rock a bye baby 1958 jerry lewis dean martin full length comedy movie. James ellison and richard haydn as the school friends, anne baxter and arleen whelan as the girls. A corporate and financial history, published in 1988 by scarecrow filmmaker series.
Charleys aunt 1941 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and. Ray bolger demonstrates his agility in wheres charley. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that youve provided to them or that theyve collected from your use of their services. We use cookies to personalize content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyze our traffic. Benny, predating jack lemmons work in some like it hot, is a marvel as the english earl posing as an oxford classmates aunt. An oxford undergraduate student and charleys friend, jack is in love with kitty verdun. An oxford student is forced to dress in drag as his own aunt, visiting from brazil, when she does not appear in time to chaperone him, his friends, and their beloveds. Charleys aunt is a threeact farce that, when it premiered in 1892, was so. His film career is not thought of highly, but some of that is due to jacks own attitude towards his films.
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. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and. While jack as a british college student only kinda works, jack is still a stitch. Good cast with jack benny in one of his best roles. Ray bolger s wild impersonation of charley s perennial aunt in the musical show, where s charley. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original london run of 1,466 performances. The old theatrical chestnut has some surprisingly modern touches in the form of sexual innuendoes, that only add to the fun. Ben ames williams to write a vehicle for stirling hayden dealing with cape cod world premiere opens film arrives at the criterion today. The aunt is delayed, they force lord babberly into a dress, and the girls arrive. Charleys aunt article about charleys aunt by the free.
Benny plays fancourt babberly, a somewhat older student at a british university in the late 1800s who, through a series of complications, winds up playing donna lucia of brazil, the aunt of another student, charley, because. Jul 28, 2007 sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charley s aunt on disc. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charleys brazilian aunt donna lucia. It is based on the british writer brandon thomass 1892 play charleys aunt. Laird cregar and edmund gwenn vie for benny s hand. He first falls for charleys aunts money, but then makes another discovery. The film isnt a comic masterwork but its a fun way to spend an hour and a half.
Arthur askey took the leading role in a 1940 british film charleys bighearted aunt that developed themes from the original play. The story centres on lord fancourt babberley, an undergraduate whose friends jack and charley persuade him to impersonate the latters aunt. 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. The 1941 version of charley s aunt would be notable if only because it s 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. The film isnt a comic masterwork but it s a fun way to spend an hour and a half.
Charleys aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Charleys aunt, the gold standard for british farce, is a wild ride of mistaken identity, witty dialogue, and slapstick humor. Ray bolgers wild impersonation of charleys perennial aunt in the musical show, wheres charley. Victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their wealthy playboy friend, lord fancourt babberly jack benny, to impersonate charley s. The films sets were designed by art director franz schroedter. Jack benny masquerades as charley s aunt and gets involved in several scrapes while a student at oxford.
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