Something Money Can't Buy

1952 film by Pat Jackson

9 July 1952 (1952-07-09)

Running time

83 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglishBox office£121,000^[1]

Something Money Can't Buy is a 1952 British comedy drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel and Moira Lister.^[2] The film was made with backing from the NFFC as part of its British Film-Makers project with the Rank Organisation.^[3] The film was distributed by Rank's General Film Distributors. In America it was released by Universal Pictures in 1953.

Production

The film was shot at Pinewood Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky. The film was a rare comedy role for Steel, who made it immediately prior to shooting The Planter's Wife (1952). It involved Roc returning to London after two years in Paris, where she lived with her French husband. She and Steel had an affair during the making of the movie which resulted in Roc having Steel's baby.^[4] It was the only comedy Steel made while a star.^[5]

Plot

Harry and Anne Wilding return to civilian life after service in the army. They have trouble readjusting, and Harry eventually resigns from his council job and goes into business, selling food from a mobile canteen. Anne becomes jealous of the daughter of Harry's backer. Anne gives up her job to concentrate on her marriage.^[6]

Cast

Patricia Roc as Anne Wilding
Anthony Steel as Captain Harry Wilding
Moira Lister as Diana Haverstock
A. E. Matthews as Lord Haverstock
David Hutcheson as Buster
Michael Trubshawe as Willy
Diane Hart as Joan
Charles Victor as Borough Treasurer
Henry Edwards as Gerald Forbes
Mary Hinton as Mrs. Forbes
Joss Ambler as Mr. Burton, the auctioneer
Michael Brennan as Fairground boss
Helen Goss as Mrs. Lindstrom
D. A. Clarke-Smith as Critic
Mara Lane as Film Star
John Barry as Film Star
Joe Linnane as Cameraman
Dennis Arundell as Director
Oscar Quitak as 2nd Assistant director
Irene Prador as German maid
Olwen Brookes as Lady at party
Margaret Vyner as Actress at party
Basil Dignam as Head Waiter
Johnnie Schofield as Irish Policeman
Fred Griffiths as Customer at Fairground
Ernie Rice as Boxing Booth Assistant
Avice Landone as Maternity Sister
Dandy Nichols as Reassuring Mother

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin described it as "a double disappointment from the director of White Corridors; the poverty-stricken material apart, its staging is uncharacteristically flabby, with none of the polish and professionalism of its predecessor."^[7]

Variety said it was "handled with an assured light touch by a competent cast".^[8]

Pat Jackson later said "It ought to have been a good film, it had a certain charm, the story had a certain charm. I think I just did it badly, I directed badly, I don't know what it was, it just didn't work. It was my fault and that was it; it was as simple as that...It needed great lightness of touch, which I didn't get... It was all in the script, the script was charming. I think James and I wrote a nice script and he was a great help and a wonderful man, James. But no. I botched it."^[9]

References

^ BFI Collections: Michael Balcon Papers H3 reprinted in British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference By Sue Harper, Vincent Porter p 41
^ "NEW BRITISH COMEDY". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 3 June 1953. p. 40. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
^ Harper & Porter p.41
^ "Talking of Films". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 13 February 1952. p. 31. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
^ Vagg, Stephen (23 September 2020). "The Emasculation of Anthony Steel: A Cold Streak Saga". Filmink.
^ Something Money Can't Buy Picture Show; London Vol. 59, Iss. 1533, (Aug 16, 1952): 5-6, 10
^ SOMETHING MONEY CAN'T BUY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 19, Iss. 216, (Jan 1, 1952): 124.
^ Review of film at Variety
^ "Pat Jackson interview" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project. 22 March 1991.