''Brass Monkey'' is a 1948 British comedy thriller with musical asides, directed by

Thornton Freeland Thornton Freeland (February 10, 1898 – May 22, 1987) was an American film director who directed 26 British and American films in a career that lasted from 1924 to 1949. Early success He was born in Hope, North Dakota in 1898 and originally wor ...

. It stars

Carroll Levis Carroll Richard Levis (March 15, 1910 – October 17, 1968) was a Canadian talent scout, impresario and radio and television broadcaster, mainly working in Britain. Biography Born in Toronto and brought up in Vancouver, he grew up wanting to be ...

, a radio variety show host and talent scout (known as "Britain's favourite Canadian") and American actress

Carole Landis Carole Landis (born Frances Lillian Mary Ridste; January 1, 1919 – July 5, 1948) was an American actress and singer. She worked as a contract player for Twentieth Century-Fox in the 1940s. Her breakout role was as the female lead in the 1940 ...

in her last film. Also known as ''The Lucky Mascot'', the film features an early appearance by comic actor

Terry-Thomas Terry-Thomas (born Thomas Terry Hoar Stevens; 10 July 19118 January 1990) was an English character actor and comedian who became internationally known through his films during the 1950s and 1960s. He often portrayed disreputable members of th ...

, playing himself. Though made in 1948, ''Brass Monkey'' wasn't released in the US until 1951.

Plot

Popular radio presenter

(playing himself), and Kay Sheldon (

) find themselves entangled in a web of smuggling and murder. When a priceless "brass monkey" is stolen from a Japanese temple and smuggled into England, Levis encounters the eccentric Mr. Ryder-Harris (

Ernest Thesiger Ernest Frederic Graham Thesiger, CBE (15 January 1879 – 14 January 1961) was an English stage and film actor. He is noted for his performance as Doctor Septimus Pretorius in James Whale's film ''Bride of Frankenstein'' (1935). Biography E ...

), a Buddhist art connoisseur who's chasing the artefact, and will apparently stop at nothing to get it. The monkey is missing and suspicious murders are being committed in the hunt for its retrieval. With the help of the ''Discoveries'' radio talent, Levis attempts to avoid murderous henchman

Herbert Lom Herbert Charles Angelo Kuchačevič ze Schluderpacheru (11 September 1917 – 27 September 2012), known professionally as Herbert Lom (), was a Czech-British actor who moved to the United Kingdom in 1939. In a career lasting more than 60 ye ...

, and foil Mr. Ryder-Harris's plans. Amongst all the mayhem, an array of musical and comedy performers audition for and appear on ''The Levis Hour'', the hero's weekly radio programme.

Cast

as Himself *

as Kay Sheldon *

as Peter Hobart *

Avril Angers Florence Avril Angers (18 April 1918 – 9 November 2005) was an English stand-up comedian and actress. The ''Daily Telegraph'' described her as "one of the most zestful, charming and reliable character comediennes in the postwar London theat ...

as Herself *

as Ryder-Harris *

Edward Underdown Charles Edward Underdown (3 December 190815 December 1989) was an English theatre, cinema and television actor. He was born in London and educated at Eton College in Berkshire. Notable work Early theatre credits include: Noël Coward's '' Words ...

as Max Taylor * Henry Edwards as Inspector Miller * Henry Worthington as Rodney *

as Himself *

Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson, known as "Hutch" (7 March 1900 – 18 August 1969), was a Grenada-born singer and musician who was one of the biggest cabaret, cabaret stars in the world during the 1920s and 1930s. Early life Born in Gouya ...

as Hutch *

Campbell Cotts Campbell Cotts (21 April 190219 February 1964) was a Cape Colony-born actor of British stage, film and television. A former barrister and a published poet, Cotts studied at Cambridge and fought in Second World War, attaining the rank of 1st Lieu ...

as A.J. Gilroy * Peter Williams as Detective Fellows

Production

Landis arrived in England to make the film in August 1947. Landis says she encouraged English actors to speak slower so US audiences could understand them.

Songs

*"It's the Greatest Business in the world" by Gaby Rogers – staged by Buddy Bradley *"Home Sweet Home" by Sid Colin and

Steve Race Stephen Russell "Steve" Race OBE (1 April 192122 June 2009) was a British composer, pianist and radio and television presenter. Biography Born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, the son of a lawyer, Race learned the piano from the age of five.Spencer L ...

*"Somebody Blew My Bluebird's Egg" by Noel Langley and Pat Quin *"I Know Myself Too Well" by Ross Parker *"Tomorrow's Rainbow" by Colin Campbell

Critical reception

* '' Time Out'' called the film a "ramshackle support feature", and concluded it was "a curio, but not really a collectible." *In a contemporary review, ''The Geraldton Guardian'' called ''The Brass Monkey'', a "well told story." *

Sky Movies Sky Cinema is a British subscription film service owned by Sky Group (a division of Comcast). In the United Kingdom, Sky Cinema channels currently broadcast on the Sky satellite and Virgin Media cable platforms, and in addition Sky Cinema ...

wrote, "a rough (very rough) and tumble British comedy-thriller spun round the then popular shows featuring Carroll Levis. ... Not much as a film ... But of undoubted interest for its extraordinary cast."

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Brass Monkey 1948 films British black-and-white films British crime thriller films Films directed by Thornton Freeland 1940s crime thriller films 1940s crime comedy films British crime comedy films 1948 comedy films 1940s English-language films 1940s British films