''To Dorothy a Son'' is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Muriel Box and starring Shelley Winters,

John Gregson Harold Thomas Gregson (15 March 1919 – 8 January 1975), known professionally as John Gregson, was an English actor of stage, television and film, with 40 credited film roles. He was best known for his crime drama and comedy roles. He was cr ...

and

Peggy Cummins Peggy Cummins (born Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller; 18 December 1925 – 29 December 2017) was an Irish actress, born in Wales, who is best known for her performance in Joseph H. Lewis's ''Gun Crazy'' (1950), playing a trigger-happy ''femme fa ...

. Known in the U.S. as ''Cash on Delivery'', it is based on the 1950 play '' To Dorothy, a Son'' by

Roger MacDougall Roger MacDougall (2 August 1910, in Glasgow – 27 May 1993) was a Scottish playwright, screenwriter and director. Biography MacDougall began writing the occasional screenplay in the late 30s, working both alone and in collaboration with ...

which had enjoyed a lengthy run in the West End. It was shot at Elstree Studios near London with sets designed by the

art director Art director is the title for a variety of similar job functions in theater, advertising, marketing, publishing, fashion, film industry, film and television, the Internet, and video games. It is the charge of a sole art director to supervise and ...

George Provis. It was distributed in America by

RKO Pictures RKO Radio Pictures Inc., commonly known as RKO Pictures or simply RKO, was an American film production and distribution company, one of the "Big Five" film studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orphe ...

in January 1956.

Premise

In order to receive a large inheritance, an American woman travels to Britain to prevent her ex-husband having any more children.

Cast

* Shelley Winters as Myrtle La Mar *

as Tony Rapallo *

as Dorothy Rapallo * Wilfrid Hyde-White as Mr Starke * Mona Washbourne as Midwife Appleby *

Hal Osmond Hal Osmond (27 May 1903 – December 1959) was a British stage, film and television actor. He played Anselm in ''The Adventures of Robin Hood'' episode "Errand of Mercy" (1956). Selected filmography * '' Once Upon a Dream'' (1949) * ''Vote for H ...

as Livingstone Potts * Hartley Power as Cy Daniel * Maurice Kaufmann as Elmer the Pianist *

John Warren John Warren may refer to: Medicine * John Warren (surgeon) (1753–1815), American surgeon during the Revolutionary War * John Collins Warren (1778–1856), American surgeon * John Collins Warren Jr. (1842–1927), American surgeon, son of John C ...

as Waiter * Fred Berger as Furrier * Dorothy Bramhall as Starke's secretary * Nicholas Parsons as Passport Official *

Ronald Adam General Sir Ronald Forbes Adam, 2nd Baronet, (30 October 1885 – 26 December 1982) was a senior British Army officer. He had an important influence on the conduct of the British Army during the Second World War as a result of his long tenure ...

as Parsons *

Martin Miller Martin Miller may refer to: *Martin Miller (actor) (1899–1969), Czech actor *Martin Miller (cricketer, born 1940), English cricketer *Martin Miller (cricketer, born 1972), English cricketer *Martin Miller (footballer) (born 1997), Estonian footbal ...

as Brodcynsky * Alfie Bass as Cab Driver * Anthony Oliver as Express Reporter * Joan Sims as Telephone Operator * Aubrey Mather as Dr. Cameron * Meredith Edwards as Carter * Campbell Singer as Pub Landlord * Marjorie Rhodes as Landlady * Charles Hawtrey as Waiter at Pub *

Joan Newell Joan Newell (1915–2012) was a British actress primarily known for her television roles, but who also appeared in films and on stage. She co-starred with John Slater in the 1953 series '' Johnny, You're Wanted''.Baskin p.11 Amongst her most pro ...

as Mrs. Robinson * Bartlett Mullins as Mechanic * Gudrun Ure as Cy Daniel's Secretary * Grace Denbeigh-Russell as Spinster * Charles Hammond as 'Express' Photographer *

as Waiter

Critical reception

'' TV Guide'' described the film as "a time-zone comedy, with Winters leading a British cast to give the film US appeal...None of it is terribly interesting" ; whereas '' The New York Times'' wrote, "BELIEVE it or not, the running time of a stork determines the heir or heiress to $2,000,000 in ''Cash on Delivery'', a bright, British farce that was fun on delivery at the Little Carnegie yesterday...Shelley Winters, as Myrtle, is in one of those made-to-order roles. John Gregson, as Tony, and Peggy Cummins, as Dorothy, are fine. And Mona Washbourne makes a delightfully tart nurse. Deliver yourself to the Little Carnegie. You'll have a good time."

References

External links

*
Review of film
at Variety 1954 films 1954 comedy films British films based on plays Films directed by Muriel Box British comedy films Films with screenplays by Peter Rogers Films produced by Peter Rogers British black-and-white films Films shot at British National Studios 1950s English-language films 1950s British films {{1950s-UK-comedy-film-stub