Isn't Life Wonderful! is a 1953 British technicolor period comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Cecil Parker, Eileen Herlie and Donald Wolfit.[4] The film was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British with sets designed by the art director Terence Verity. It was released in the United States as Uncle Willie's Bicycle Shop, the title of Brock Williams original 1948 novel based on his boyhood experiences.[5]
Isn't Life Wonderful! | |
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Directed by | Harold French |
Screenplay by | Brock Williams |
Based on | Uncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop by Brock Williams[1] |
Produced by | Warwick Ward |
Starring | Cecil Parker Eileen Herlie Donald Wolfit Peter Asher |
Cinematography | Erwin Hillier |
Edited by | Edward B. Jarvis |
Music by | Philip Green |
Production company | Associated British Picture Corporation |
Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé |
Release date | 16 November 1953 |
Running time | 81 minutes[2] |
Country | United Kingdom |
Language | English |
Box office | £97,710[3] |
In Edwardian England, alcoholic Uncle Willie (Donald Wolfit) is an embarrassment to his family. Head of the household father (Cecil Parker), decides to set Willie up as the manager of a bicycle shop, hoping to impress visiting American heiress Virginia van Stuyden (Dianne Foster). The surprise for everyone comes when Uncle Willie's little shop begins to prosper.
TV Guide called it "A pleasant little charmer";[6] while Sky Cinema wrote, "Director Harold French skilfully milks its situations for all they are worth...No big stars in this film, which makes it an unexpected treat. Based on an equally entertaining novel Uncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop. Donald Wolfit stars as the alcoholic Uncle Willie, Cecil Parker suffers splendidly as Father."[7]
Films directed by Harold French | |
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