''Cardboard Cavalier'' is a 1948 British

historical History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...

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

Walter Forde Walter Forde (born Thomas Seymour Woolford, 21 April 1898 – 7 January 1984) was a British actor, screenwriter and director. Born in Lambeth, south London in 1898, he directed over fifty films between 1919 from the silent era through to 19 ...

and starring Sid Field,

Margaret Lockwood Margaret Mary Day Lockwood, CBE (15 September 1916 – 15 July 1990), was an English actress. One of Britain's most popular film stars of the 1930s and 1940s, her film appearances included '' The Lady Vanishes'' (1938), ''Night Train to Munic ...

and

Jerry Desmonde Jerry Desmonde (born James Robert Sadler; 20 July 1908 – 11 February 1967) was an English actor and presenter. He is perhaps best known for his work as a comedic foil in duos with Norman Wisdom and Sid Field. Early life Jerry Desmonde was ...

. It was the last film for Forde and Field. Field died of a heart attack shortly after the film was released.

Plot

In an England under the rule of

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English politician and military officer who is widely regarded as one of the most important statesmen in English history. He came to prominence during the 1639 to 1651 Wars of the Three K ...

, London barrow boy Sidcup Buttermeadow is unwittingly used as a spy for the exiled Charles II to deliver messages to his

royalist A royalist supports a particular monarch as head of state for a particular kingdom, or of a particular dynastic claim. In the abstract, this position is royalism. It is distinct from monarchism, which advocates a monarchical system of governm ...

supporters, and is aided by the object of his affection, Nell Gwynn. Dressed as a

Cavalier The term Cavalier () was first used by Roundheads as a term of abuse for the wealthier royalist supporters of King Charles I and his son Charles II of England during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration (1642 – ). It ...

, Sidcup is pursued by

Roundhead Roundheads were the supporters of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War (1642–1651). Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I of England and his supporters, known as the Cavaliers or Royalists, who ...

troops, but evades them with the help of a variety of people and a ghost. When Charles is eventually

restored ''Restored'' is the fourth studio album by American contemporary Christian music musician Jeremy Camp. It was released on November 16, 2004 by BEC Recordings. Track listing Standard release Enhanced edition Deluxe gold edition Standard ...

as king, Sid is knighted and gets to kiss Nell Gwynn.

Cast

* Sid Field as Sidcup Buttermeadow *

Nell Gwynne Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stag ...

as Colonel Lovelace * Jack McNaughton as Uriah Group * Brian Worth as Tom Pride * Edmund Willard as

Mary Clare Mary Clare Absalom (17 July 1892 – 29 August 1970) was a British actress of stage, film and television. Biography Daughter of George Alfred Absalom, Clare was educated at Wood Green secondary school, first worked in an office but a loan ...

as Milady Doverhouse * Alfie Dean as Murdercasket *

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 Charles II *

Miles Malleson William Miles Malleson (25 May 1888 – 15 March 1969) was an English actor and dramatist, particularly remembered for his appearances in British comedy films of the 1930s to 1960s. Towards the end of his career he also appeared in cameo roles i ...

as Judge Gorebucket *

Irene Handl Irene Handl (27 December 1901 – 29 November 1987) was a British author and character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films. Life Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the younger of two daughters of an Austria-born father ...

as the ghost of Lady Agnes * Joan Young as Maggie *

Claude Hulbert Claude Noel Hulbert (25 December 1900 – 23 January 1964) was a mid-20th century English stage, radio and cinema comic actor. Early life Claude Hulbert was born in Fulham in West London on Christmas Day 1900. He was the younger brother of Ja ...

as Sylvester Clutterbuck * Michael Brennan as Brother Barebones *

Peter Bull Peter Cecil Bull, (21 March 1912 – 20 May 1984) was a British character actor who appeared in supporting roles in such films as '' The African Queen'', ''Tom Jones'', and '' Dr. Strangelove''. Biography He was the fourth and youngest son ...

as Mosspot *

Vincent Holman Vincent Holman (22 September 1886 – 7 April 1962) was a British stage, film and television actor. On stage, he was in the original cast of Arnold Ridley's '' The Ghost Train'' at Brighton's Theatre Royal and London's St. Martin's Theatre i ...

as Lord Doverhouse *

John Salew John Rylett Salew (1902 (some sources state 1 January 1897)14 September 1961) was an English stage film and TV actor. Salew made the transition from stage to films in 1939, and according to Allmovie, "the manpower shortage during WWII enabled ...

as Smug

Production

The film was part of an ambitious production programme from J. Arthur Rank to meet an increased quota for British films. His intent was to make 60 over 12 months. Sid Field's casting was announced in June 1948. He made the movie after a six-month tour of the US. Field's first film, '' London Town'', had been a big flop but his popularity on stage encouraged Rank to try him again in films.

Pat Roc Patricia Roc (born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold; 7 June 1915 – 30 December 2003) was an English film actress, popular in the Gainsborough melodramas such as ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' (1945) and '' The Wicked Lady'' (1945), though she only ...

was meant to play the role of

Nell Gwynn Eleanor Gwyn (2 February 1650 – 14 November 1687; also spelled ''Gwynn'', ''Gwynne'') was a celebrity figure of the Restoration period. Praised by Samuel Pepys for her comic performances as one of the first actresses on the English stag ...

but reportedly turned it down and was replaced by

, who was keen to play comedy again after making a number of dramas. Field's son was born during filming on 5 August. Filming started in June 1948. It was made at

Denham Studios Denham Film Studios was a British film production studio operating from 1936 to 1952, founded by Alexander Korda. Notable films made at Denham include ''Brief Encounter'' and David Lean's ''Great Expectations''. From the 1950s to the 1970s th ...

. Production of the film was interrupted by a strike from crew members in protest over recent sackings of film workers. Cast member Alfie Dean died as the result of an off-set accident during the period of filming. Aaron Neathery, "Who are Collinson and Dean?", ''The Third Banana'', 8 November 2005
Retrieved 22 February 2021 Filming ended in January 1949. Lockwood wrote in her memoirs that "we had a romp of a time with Sid Field."

Reception

The film was a critical and box-office disappointment. "I was terribly distressed when I read the press notices of the film", wrote Lockwood. ''Filmink'' stated the film "sounded like the sort of fun romp Bob Hope made so successfully...But those Hope vehicles were made by people who knew what they were doing...the makers of ''Cardboard Cavalier'' seem hopelessly out of their depth, including (it must be admitted) Lockwood who isn’t very good, mostly because she tries to be funny – forgetting that in her earlier comedies she was more the straight person." Some reviews have been much more positive. The critic Derek Winnert noted that the film was "well timed, sprightly and funny, and exuberantly played by a welcome vintage cast, as well as amusingly written by Noel Langley and nicely directed by the comedy expert Forde." ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' spoke of Langley's script "blend ngcomedy, bathos and sheer slapstick with skill and ingenuity" and also highlighted Lockwood as playing her role with "great gusto...verve and vivacity". The film was banned in Syria in 1953.

References

External links

*
''Cardboard Cavalier''
at Britmovie
Review of film
at ''Variety'' {{Walter Forde 1949 films Films directed by Walter Forde 1940s historical comedy films British historical comedy films Films shot at Denham Film Studios Films set in London Films set in the 1650s British black-and-white films Films with screenplays by Noel Langley Cultural depictions of Charles II of England Cultural depictions of Oliver Cromwell 1940s English-language films 1940s British films