Made in Heaven *** (1952, David Tomlinson, Petula Clark, Sonja Ziemann, A E Matthews, Charles Victor, Sophie Stewart, Richard Wattis, Athene Seyler Alfie Bass, Dora Bryan, Ferdy Mayne, Moira Lister, Ronnie Stevens) – Classic Movie Review 7083

Director John Paddy Carstairs’s spry though obviously dated 1952 British Technicolor film Made in Heaven is an almost heavenly Fifties comedy about the annual contest in the historic English market town of Dunmow for married couples to win a rationed joint of gammon for proof of their total wedded happiness.

At the Dunmow Flitch Trial, the flitch of bacon can be won by a couple who a year later have no regrets about marrying and can prove they have thought of no one else for a year and a day. But the arrival of sexy Hungarian home help Marta (Sonja Ziemann) is a blow to the bliss of sweet young couple (Julie and Basil Topham (Petula Clark and David Tomlinson), who have entered the contest.

Among a clutch of very pleasing performances, Richard Wattis and Athene Seyler are hilarious as the vicar and his battle-axe of a sister, A E Matthews is superb as grandpa, and Alfie Bass and Dora Bryan are delightful as the Jenkinses.

The fairly nimble screenplay by William Douglas-Home and the producer George H Brown is based on the original story by Douglas-Home and Brown, and it has not faded too much. Naturally the lovely Technicolor photography is a surprise and a definite bonus.

Also in the cast are Charles Victor, Sophie Stewart, Ferdy Mayne, Moira Lister, Ronnie Stevens, Philip Stainton, Michael Brennan, George Bishop, Gilbert Davis, Harold Kasket, Stuart Latham and John Warren.

Made in Heaven is directed by John Paddy Carstairs, runs 98 minutes, is made by Fanfare and Rank, is released by General Film Distributors, is written by William Douglas Home and George H Brown, is shot in Technicolor by Geoffrey Unsworth, is produced by Earl St John (executive producer) and George H Brown and is scored by Ronald Hanmer, with Art Direction by Maurice Carter. It is filmed at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7083

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