''Look Up and Laugh'' is a 1935 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 o ...

directed by

Basil Dean Basil Herbert Dean CBE (27 September 1888 – 22 April 1978) was an English actor, writer, producer and director in the theatre and in cinema. He founded the Liverpool Repertory Company in 1911 and in the First World War, after organising unof ...

and starring

Gracie Fields Dame Gracie Fields (born Grace Stansfield; 9 January 189827 September 1979) was an English actress, singer, comedian and star of cinema and music hall who was one of the top ten film stars in Britain during the 1930s and was considered the h ...

, Alfred Drayton and

Douglas Wakefield Douglas Wakefield (28 August 189914 April 1951) was a British music hall performer and film actor. He is often credited as Duggie Wakefield. He appeared in two films with sister-in-law Gracie Fields, playing her brother in the 1933 comedy ''This W ...

. The film is notable for featuring an appearance by

Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967; born Vivian Mary Hartley), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, for her definitive performances as Scarlett O'Hara in '' Go ...

in an early supporting role.

Plot

Gracie Pearson (Fields) is a singer/comedian who returns home to enjoy a little holiday, but there is trouble brewing. First, she has to use all of her hard-earned money to pay for part of what her brother owes to a money lender. Then when they go to see their father, they find he has collapsed due to the Plumborough Market (where he has a stall) is threatened with demolition to make way for a department store. She receives a telegram offering a West End singing job, but decides to try to save the market instead. As time runs out, Gracie rallies the stall keepers together through a series of ever more hilarious schemes in their attempts to save their livelihoods.

Cast

as Gracie Pearson *

as Marjorie Belfer *

as Joe Chirk * Alfred Drayton as Belfer * Billy Nelson as Alf Chirk *

Harry Tate Ronald Macdonald Hutchison (4 July 1872 – 14 February 1940), professionally known as Harry Tate, was an English comedian, who performed in the music halls, in variety shows, and in films. Career Born in Lambeth, the son of a Scottish tea m ...

as Turnpenny * Huntley Wright as Ketley * Robb Wilton as Mayor *

Morris Harvey Morris Harvey (25 September 187724 August 1944) was a British actor and writer. A renowned character actor, he also wrote for the stage, including material for Broadway revues, in which he also appeared. He was the stepfather of film director Ant ...

as Rosenbloom * Maud Gill as Miss Canvey *

Norman Walker Norman Walker may refer to: *Norman Walker (bass) (1907–1963), English bass opera singer * Norman W. Walker (1886–1985), British-American raw food and alternative health advocate * Norman Walker (director) (1892–1963), British film director * ...

as Brierley * Tommy Fields as Sidney Pearson *

Helen Ferrers Helen Ferrers (1869–1943), born Helen Finney, was a British stage and film actress. Personal life Helen Finney was born in Cookham in Berkshire, the daughter of a London coal merchant and the younger sister of the actress May Fortescue ( ...

as Lady Buster *

Kenneth Kove Kenneth Kove (1892–1984) was a British actor. He was a regular member of the Aldwych farce team between 1923 and 1930, often in "silly-ass" roles; appearing in '' It Pays to Advertise'' (1923), '' Thark'' (1927), '' A Cup of Kindness'' (1929), ...

as Piano Assistant * D. J. Williams as Malpas Uncredited: * Frank Atkinson as Debt Collector * Florence Gregson as Mr. Pearson's Housekeeper *

Arthur Hambling Arthur Hambling (14 March 1888 – 6 December 1952) was a British actor, on stage from 1912, and best known for appearances in the films ''Henry V'' (1944) and ''The Lavender Hill Mob'' (1951). In 1939 he appeared in the West End in N.C. Hunte ...

as Sam * James Harcourt as Mr. Pearson * Anthony Holles as Store Manager * Mike Johnson as Man Outside Market * Jack Melford as Journalist *

Kenneth More Kenneth Gilbert More, CBE (20 September 1914 – 12 July 1982) was an English film and stage actor. Initially achieving fame in the comedy '' Genevieve'' (1953), he appeared in many roles as a carefree, happy-go-lucky gent. Films from this per ...

as Bit Part *

Ernest Sefton Ernest Sefton (born as Ernest Henry Tipton; 13 January 1883 in Hackney, London – 5 December 1954) was a British film actor. He was the brother of Violet Loraine. Selected filmography * ''The Sign of Four'' (1932) * ''The Innocents of Chi ...

as Borough Engineer

Reception

Writing for ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''Th ...

'',

Graham Greene Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991) was an English writer and journalist regarded by many as one of the leading English novelists of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquir ...

described the film as "light itha pleasant local flavour" the plot of which is "genuinely provincial". Greene praised Priestley's writing and opined that the film distinguishes itself "by the sense that a man's observation and experience, as well as his invention, has gone into its making".

Home media

This film was released as part of the Gracie Fields collector's edition which also includes the films '' Sally in Our Alley'' (1931), '' Looking on the Bright Side'' (1932), '' Love, Life and Laughter'' (1934), ''

Sing As We Go ''Sing As We Go'' is a 1934 British musical film starring Gracie Fields, John Loder and Stanley Holloway. The script was written by Gordon Wellesley and J. B. Priestley. Considered by many to be British music hall star Gracie Fields' finest ...

'' (1934), ''

Queen of Hearts The queen of hearts is a playing card in the standard 52-card deck. Queen of Hearts or The Queen of Hearts may refer to: Books * "The Queen of Hearts" (poem), anonymous nursery rhyme published 1782 * ''The Queen of Hearts'', an 1859 novel by ...

'' and '' The Show Goes On'' (1937), these are on 4 discs. Two films each on three of the discs with the other film on disc four.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Look Up And Laugh 1935 films 1935 comedy films British comedy films Films set in England Films directed by Basil Dean Associated Talking Pictures British black-and-white films 1930s British films