''It's a Grand Life'', also known as ''As You Were'', is a 1953 British film described in its opening titles as a comedy burlesque. It was directed by

John E. Blakeley John E. Blakeley (1 October 1888 – 20 February 1958) was a British film producer, director (film), director and screenwriter, the founder of Mancunian Films. Born in Ardwick, Manchester, son of James Blakeley (born c. 1862; Manchester), and Mar ...

and stars

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 Lancashire, Lancastrians George Formby, Jr., George Formby and Gracie Field ...

and

Diana Dors Diana Dors (born Diana Mary Fluck; 23 October 19314 May 1984) was an English actress and singer. Dors came to public notice as a Bombshell (slang), blonde bombshell, much in the style of Americans Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, and Mamie Van ...

. The film contains a series of sketches set in army life in the

Essex Regiment The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...

in the post-World War II era, mostly involving Randle as an accident-prone private. Randle, who made his final film appearance in ''It's a Grand Life'', had previously starred in a series of World War II army comedies: ''

Somewhere in England ''Somewhere in England'' is the ninth studio album by the English musician George Harrison, released on 1 June 1981 by Dark Horse Records. The album was recorded as Harrison was becoming increasingly frustrated with the music industry. The alb ...

'' (1940), ''

Somewhere in Camp ''Somewhere in Camp'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Harry Korris and Robbie Vincent. The film continues the adventures of Private Randle from the 1940 film '' Somewhere in England''. It ...

'' (1942), '' Somewhere on Leave'' (1942), ''

Somewhere in Civvies ''Somewhere in Civvies'' is a 1943 British comedy film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring Frank Randle, George Doonan and Suzette Tarri. Private Randle is discharged from the army and finds it difficult to adjust to civilian life. It was fo ...

'' (1943) and ''

Somewhere in Politics ''Somewhere in Politics'' (also known as ''A Full House'') is a 1948 British comedy film directed and produced by John E. Blakeley and starring Frank Randle, Tessie O'Shea and Josef Locke. It was written by Harry Jackson. It was the fifth in t ...

'' (1948). One of the subplots involves a glamorous

Women's Royal Army Corps The Women's Royal Army Corps (WRAC; sometimes pronounced acronymically as , a term unpopular with its members) was the corps to which all women in the British Army belonged from 1949 to 1992 except medical, dental and veterinary officers and chap ...

corporal who is pursued by her

company sergeant major The company sergeant major (CSM) is the senior non-commissioned soldier of a company in the armies of many Commonwealth countries, responsible for administration, standards and discipline. In combat, their prime responsibility is the supply of ...

. Other set pieces include a wrestling match with Jack Pye and a drill sequence.

Cast

as Private Randle *

as Corporal Paula Clements * Dan Young as Private Young * Michael Brennan as Sergeant Major O'Reilly * Jennifer Jayne as Private Desmond * John Blythe as Private Philip Green *

Anthony Hulme Anthony Hulme (1910–2007) was a British film actor. Filmography * ''A Yank at Oxford'' (1938) * '' The Body Vanished'' (1939) * ''The Frozen Limits'' (1939) * ''They Came by Night'' (1940) * '' Laugh It Off'' (1940) * '' For Freedom'' (1940) * ...

as Captain Saunders * Charles Peters as Private Rubenstein * Arthur White as Private Prendergast * Leslie Gould * Kevin Peters *

Ian Fleming Ian Lancaster Fleming (28 May 1908 – 12 August 1964) was a British writer, best known for his postwar ''James Bond'' series of spy novels. Fleming came from a wealthy family connected to the merchant bank Robert Fleming & Co., and his ...

as Mr. Clements * Ruth Taylor as Mrs. Clements * Jack Pye as himself, wrestler * Bill Gernon as himself, wrestler * Cab Cashford as himself, wrestler * Carl Van Wurden as himself, wrestler *

Winifred Atwell Una Winifred Atwell (27 February or 27 April 1910 or 1914There is some uncertainty over her date and year of birth. Many sources suggest 27 February 1914, but there is a strong suggestion that her birthday was 27 April. Most sources give her ye ...

as herself, guest artiste * Peter Mullings as dance hall manager (uncredited) * George Jackson as jeep driver (uncredited)

Production

''It's a Grand Life'' was one of several low-budget comedies featuring Dors in the era. She was paid £1,000 for five weeks work, the fee that she had been paid for on '' Is Your Honeymoon Really Necessary?'' (1953). Dors later said that she "loathed the script and everything about it" but that her manager and husband Dennis Hamilton insisted that she take the role. Dors also claimed that Randle's drinking and temperament had delayed production. The film was shot in

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin The ''Monthly Film Bulletin'' was a periodical of the British Film Institute published monthly from February 1934 until April 1991, when it merged with '' Sight & Sound''. It reviewed all films on release in the United Kingdom, including those wi ...

'' wrote: "The slight story is no more than a peg on which to hang a series of music-hall sketches, which will be recognised by those who are familiar with Randle's stage work. They have a certain rustic humour, but most of the gags and business have worn rather thin with the years, though they may still be appreciated by less sophisticated audiences. Winifred Attwell makes a guest appearance." In the ''

Radio Times ''Radio Times'' 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 September 1923 by John Reith, then general manage ...

'',

Tony Sloman Anthony B. Sloman (born 6 May 1945 in Waltham Abbey, Essex) is an English film producer and screenwriter. Tony Sloman is a cinema critic and historian, whose long career has encompassed many facets of film making. He has worked intermittent ...

called the film a "quaint and cheap army caper," and wrote of Randle, "If you've never seen him, give this a chance you might find he'll tickle your fancy. But if you have an aversion to music-hall stars on celluloid, give up, for Randle has neither the wit of

George Formby George Formby, (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961), was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he ...

nor the warmth of

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

, and by the time this movie was made he was looking tired and rather grubby."

References

External links

* 1953 films British black-and-white films 1953 comedy films British comedy films Military comedy films Films shot in Greater Manchester 1950s English-language films 1950s British films English-language comedy films {{1950s-UK-comedy-film-stub