''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 and starring Gracie Fields, Alfred Drayton and Douglas Wakefield. 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 ''Gon ...

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

* Gracie Fields as Gracie Pearson *

as Marjorie Belfer * Douglas Wakefield as Joe Chirk * Alfred Drayton as Belfer * Billy Nelson as Alf Chirk * Harry Tate as Turnpenny * Huntley Wright as Ketley *

Robb Wilton Robert Wilton Smith (28 August 1881 – 1 May 1957), better known as Robb Wilton, was an English comedian and actor. He was best known for his filmed monologues during the 1930s and 1940s, in which he played incompetent authority figures. His tr ...

as Mayor * Morris Harvey as Rosenbloom * Maud Gill as Miss Canvey * Norman Walker as Brierley * Tommy Fields as Sidney Pearson * Helen Ferrers 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 as Sam * James Harcourt as Mr. Pearson * Anthony Holles as Store Manager * Mike Johnson as Man Outside Market * Jack Melford as Journalist * Kenneth More as Bit Part * Ernest Sefton 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'' (1934), '' Queen of Hearts'' and ''

The Show Goes On The Show Goes On may refer to: * ''The Show Goes On'' (film), a 1937 British musical comedy film * ''The Show Goes On'' (1936 film), or ''Three Maxims'', a British drama directed by Herbert Wilcox * ''The Show Goes On'' (TV series), a 1950–195 ...

'' (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