''Bobbikins'' is a 1959 British

comedy film The comedy film is a film genre that emphasizes humor. These films are designed to amuse audiences and make them laugh. Films in this genre typically have a happy ending, with dark comedy being an exception to this rule. Comedy is one of the o ...

directed by Robert Day and starring

Shirley Jones Shirley Mae Jones (born March 31, 1934) is an American actress and singer. In her six decades in show business, she has starred as wholesome characters in a number of musical films, such as ''Oklahoma! (film), Oklahoma!'' (1955), ''Carousel (fi ...

and Max Bygraves. It was written by Oscar Brodney and made in CinemaScope and released by

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc., formerly 20th Century Fox, is an American film studio, film production and Film distributor, distribution company owned by the Walt Disney Studios (division), Walt Disney Studios, the film studios division of the ...

. It was produced by the British subsidiary of 20th Century Fox and shot at Elstree Studios.

Plot

This adventure follows the story of a young navy man, his wife and their baby son, Bobby, also known as Bobbikins''.'' To his surprise, Dad discovers his son talks, not baby-talk or gibberish but has adult conversations with his father only. Bobbikins learns stock market tips and passes them to his Dad. After making a killing on the stock market, problems really begin. The dad is presumed mad, the government is after him, and the breakdown of relations between the young couple ensues. But there is hope.

Cast

as Betty Barnaby * Max Bygraves as Ben Barnaby * Steven Stocker as Bobbikins Barnaby * Billie Whitelaw as Lydia Simmons * Barbara Shelley as Valerie * Colin Gordon as Dr. Phillips * Charles 'Bud' Tingwell as Luke Parker *

Lionel Jeffries Lionel Charles Jeffries (10 June 1926 – 19 February 2010) was an English actor, director, and screenwriter. He appeared primarily in films and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, Golden ...

as Gregory Mason * Charles Carson as Sir Jason Crandall * Rupert Davies as Jock Fleming * Noel Hood as nurse * David Lodge as Hargreave * John Welsh as Admiral * Bill Nagy as Rogers the butler

Critical reception

'' The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "Though the film's gimmick of a talking baby is in itself capably handled, its development is feeble, and the film has little more than Max Bygraves' bright personality to rely on." ''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 ...

Guide to Films'' gave the film 1/5 stars, writing: "Even die-hard Max Bygraves fans will be hard pressed to squeeze much enjoyment out of this cinematic lemon. Impoverished entertainer Bygraves becomes rich after his 14-month-old baby begins picking up financial titbits from his park bench conversations with Chancellor Charles Carson. Preposterous." In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Preposterous and over-sentimental comedy just about gets by on the charm of the baby and stars." British film critic Leslie Halliwell said: "Not at all a good idea, and feebly executed."

References

External links

* * * {{Robert Day 1959 films British comedy films 1959 comedy films Films directed by Robert Day 20th Century Fox films Films about babies Films shot at British National Studios 1950s English-language films 1950s British films Films scored by Philip Green