''Holidays with Pay'' is a 1948 British

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by John E. Blakeley and starring

Frank Randle Frank Randle (born Arthur Hughes, also known as Arthur McEvoy or Arthur Twist; 30 January 1901 – 7 July 1957) was an English comedian. A contemporary of fellow Lancastrians George Formby and Gracie Fields, he was regarded as more subv ...

Tessie O'Shea Teresa Mary "Tessie" O'Shea (13 March 1913 – 21 April 1995) was a Welsh entertainer and actress. Early life O'Shea was born in Plantagenet Street in Riverside, Cardiff to newspaper wholesaler James Peter O'Shea, who had been a soldier and ...

and

Dan Young Daniel Daly Young (19 April 1899 – 1970) was a British comedian and film actor. He featured in a number of Mancunian Films productions often appearing with Frank Randle. Selected filmography * '' Dodging the Dole'' (1936) * '' Calling All Cr ...

. The film follows the Rogers family as they go on holiday to Blackpool and enjoy a series of adventures.

Plot

The Rogers family visit Blackpool for their annual holidays, and have difficulty finding rooms; but are befriended by a wealthy young man who takes them to stay in his haunted mansion. The family become entangled in a plot by the young man's grasping cousin to murder him for the family inheritance. However, all ends happily with the young man marrying the Rogers eldest daughter, Pamela.

Cast

- Jack Rogers *

- Pansy Rogers *

- Phil Rogers *

Josef Locke Joseph McLaughlin (23 March 1917 – 15 October 1999), known professionally as Josef Locke, was an Irish tenor. He was successful in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the 1940s and 1950s. Background Born in Derry, Ireland, he was the son of a ...

- Himself * Sally Barnes - Pamela Rogers *

Sonny Burke Joseph Francis "Sonny" Burke (March 22, 1914 – May 31, 1980) was an American musical arranger, composer, Big Band leader and producer. In 1937, he graduated from Duke University, where he had formed and led the jazz big band known as the Duke ...

- Michael Sandford *

Bert Tracy Bert Tracey was a British silent film and talkie actor. He also directed one film, '' Boots! Boots!'', in 1934 which marked the film debut of George Formby as an adult. Tracy was born on June 16, 1889, in Manchester, England. He acted in 47 sile ...

- Ephraim Rogers * Joyanne Bracewell - Joyanne Rogers

Critical reception

''The Spinning Image'' wrote: "The film as a whole is more cheap than cheerful. What makes it worthwhile is seeing the energy of Randle when he is allowed free-rein. He must have been able to work a theatre audience brilliantly by the flash of an eye or a knowing grin. It's a great pity that his performances haven't been better preserved for posterity (we have only one sound recording of him working live in 1938)."

Bibliography

* Murphy, Robert. ''Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-49''. Routledge, 1989.

References

External links

* 1948 films British comedy films 1948 comedy films Films directed by John E. Blakeley Films set in Blackpool Films shot in England British black-and-white films Films shot in Greater Manchester 1940s English-language films 1940s British films {{1940s-UK-comedy-film-stub