''Some Will, Some Won't'' is a 1970 British comedy film directed by

Duncan Wood Wilfred Duncan Wood (24 March 1925 – 11 January 1997) was a British comedy producer, director and writer, who has been described as "the founding father of the British TV sitcom". His best-known achievements were to produce all of Tony Ha ...

, a remake of ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. The film was remade as ''Some Will, Some Won't'' (1970). Plot In his will, notorious practical joker Henry Russell leave ...

'' (1951). It starred an ensemble British cast which included Michael Hordern, Ronnie Corbett, Dennis Price, Leslie Phillips and

Arthur Lowe Arthur Lowe (22 September 1915 – 15 April 1982) was an English actor. His acting career spanned 36 years, including starring roles in numerous theatre and television productions. He played Captain Mainwaring in the British sitcom ''Dad' ...

. In Henry Russell's will, four family members are left £150,000 on condition they do the bizarre tasks Russell has set out for them.

Plot

In his will, eccentric practical joker Henry Russell leaves his four relatives £150,000 each, but with stipulations designed to make each of them step completely out of character, and prove themselves as human beings. Bossy Agnes Russell must work as a maid for a month, Herbert must overcome his natural shyness and rob a bank, woman chasing bachelor Simon has to marry the first single woman he speaks to, and crime writer Denniston is asked to commit a crime and be sent to jail for a month. When the four individuals report back to the executor, their lives are transformed for the better. But Henry still has one more surprise up his sleeve.

Cast

* Ronnie Corbett as Herbert Russell * Thora Hird as Agnes Russell * Michael Hordern as Denniston Russell *

Barbara Murray Barbara Ann Murray (27 September 1929 – 20 May 2014) was an English actress. Murray was most active in the 1940s and 1950s as a fresh-faced leading lady in many British films such as ''Passport to Pimlico'' (1949) and ''Meet Mr. Lucifer'' (19 ...

as Lucille Grayson * Leslie Phillips as Simon Russell * Wilfrid Brambell as Henry Russell * Dennis Price as Benson *

James Robertson Justice James Robertson Justice (15 June 1907 – 2 July 1975) was a British actor. He is best remembered for portraying pompous authority figures in comedies including each of the seven films in the ''Doctor'' series. He also co-starred with Grego ...

as Sir Charles Robson * Sheila Steafel as Sheila Wilcott *

Eleanor Summerfield Eleanor Audrey Summerfield (7 March 1921 – 13 July 2001) was an English actress who appeared in many plays, films and television series. She is known for her roles in ''Laughter in Paradise'' (1951), ''Final Appointment'' (1954), ''Odongo'' (1 ...

as Elizabeth Robson *

as Police Sergeant * Harold Goodwin as Williams *

Noel Howlett Noel Howlett (22 December 1902 – 26 October 1984) was an English actor, principally remembered as the incompetent headmaster, Morris Cromwell, in the ITV 1970s cult television programme ''Please Sir!'' He was the subject of infatuation by De ...

as Endicott - Solicitor * Diana King as Mrs. Craik *

Stephen Lewis Stephen Henry Lewis (born November 11, 1937) is a Canadian politician, public speaker, broadcaster, and diplomat. He was the leader of the social democratic Ontario New Democratic Party for most of the 1970s. During many of those years as leade ...

as Police Constable Arthur * Norman Mitchell as Policeman * John Nettleton as Wagstaff *

Brian Oulton Brian Oulton (11 February 1908 – 13 April 1992) was an English character actor. Biography Born in Liverpool, Lancashire, Oulton made his acting debut in 1939 as a lead actor. During the Second World War he served in the British Army, and ret ...

as Mr. Dale *

Frank Thornton Frank Thornton Ball (15 January 192116 March 2013), professionally known as Frank Thornton, was an English actor. He was known for playing Captain Peacock in ''Are You Being Served?'' and its sequel ''Grace & Favour'' (''Are You Being Served? ...

as Hotel Manager * David Lander as Ricci *

Claire Davenport Claire Bernice Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English character actress well known for her large physique. Life and career Davenport was born on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire, and began acting in 1961 with a thea ...

as Blowzy Woman * Robin Tolhurst as Lettie *

Vicki Woolf Vicki Woolf (born 1942) is a British actress known mostly for her roles in television. She appeared in fourteen episodes of '' Honey Lane'' during the 1960s. In the 1980s she featured in the sitcom ''Three Up, Two Down''. She guest starred on va ...

as Janine

Production and reception

''Laughter in Paradise'' (1951) was produced by Mario Zampi and edited by his son, Giulio, who took the same role as his father on this film. An early release of

Nat Cohen Nat Cohen (23 December 1905 – 10 February 1988)William D. Rubinstein, et al (eds.''The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History'' Palgrave Macmillan, 2011, p.171 was a British film producer and executive. For over four decades he was one of t ...

's Anglo-EMI, it carried over from the production schedule of the earlier

Associated British Picture Corporation Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), originally British International Pictures (BIP), was a British film production, distribution and exhibition company active from 1927 until 1970 when it was absorbed into EMI. ABPC also owned appro ...

(ABPC), the studio which had made the original film. David Parkinson, a reviewer for the ''

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' (currently styled as ''RadioTimes'') is a British weekly listings magazine devoted to television and radio programme schedules, with other features such as interviews, film reviews and lifestyle items. Founded in May 1923 by J ...

'', comments: "Some people really will find this comic calamity funny, but they'll be in a very small minority." While "''Laughter in Paradise'' was a patchy, but thoroughly amiable slice of whimsy", Parkinson believes "this insipid remake" is "not only an insult to the memory of the original, but it also breaches the Trades Descriptions Act" if it is intended to be a comedy and wastes a good cast.

References

External links

* 1970 films 1970 comedy films British comedy films Films shot at Associated British Studios Films set in London Films scored by Howard Blake 1970s English-language films 1970s British films {{1970s-UK-comedy-film-stub