Somewhere in Politics

1948 British film by John E. Blakeley

  • 19 November 1948 (1948-11-19) (London)
Running time
108 minutesCountryUnited KingdomLanguageEnglish

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.[1][2] It was written by Harry Jackson.

It was the fifth in the Somewhere series of films featuring Randle, and was followed by It's a Grand Life (1953).

According to the British Film Institute (BFI), only a 18-minute segment of the film is known to exist, which was released as a short film entitled Full House and released nearly 12 years later in June 1960.[3]

Plot

Joe Smart is a radio repairman who enters the political arena competing in an upcoming election against his own boss. Joe wins the election, but encounters various troubles in the process.

Cast

  • Frank Randle as Joe Smart
  • Tessie O'Shea as Daisy Smart
  • Josef Locke as Cllr. Willoughby
  • Sally Barnes as Marjorie Willoughby
  • Syd Harrison as Tony Parker
  • Max Harrison as Arthur Parker
  • Bunty Meadows as Martha Parker
  • Jimmy Clitheroe as Sonny
  • Sonny Burke as Reggie Smart
  • Anthony Oakley as Howard
  • Bernard Graham as Bank Manager
  • Effi McIntosh as Mrs. Jones
  • Kay Compston as Lady Hazelmere
  • Fred Simister as Detective Sergeant
  • George Little as Mayor

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The provinces will probably enjoy this knockabout comedy, 'though many Londoners will fail to see the point. The pace is rapid and much helped by the efforts of the cast."[4]

To-Day's Cinema concluded: "In addition to the untiring inventiveness of the star in grimace and tumble, the escapades are served by the clowning of Tessie as Randle's electioneering wife as she also heaves her 'two-ton' around in abandoned dance as by the singing of sentimental ditty by Josef Locke, and by the lunacies of Syd and Max in song and sally. It is all put over with pace and vigour, and will doubtless register heartily with the legion of Randle fans."[3]

References

  1. ^ "Somewhere in Politics". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  2. ^ "Somewhere in Politics". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Somewhere in Politics (aka A Full House)". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 3 August 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  4. ^ "Somewhere in Politics". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 15 (169): 172. 1 January 1948 – via ProQuest.

Bibliography

  • Richards, Jeffrey. Films and British national identity: from Dickens to Dad's Army. Manchester University Press, 1997.

External links

  • Somewhere in Politics at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
  • BFI Most Wanted entry, with extensive notes
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