Quiet Weekend *** (1946, Derek Farr, Marjorie Fielding, George Thorpe, Frank Cellier, Helen Shingler, Barbara White, Edward Rigby) – Classic Movie Review 8623

Derek Farr stars as Denys Royd, who goes to the country for the weekend at a run-down cottage with his parents (Marjorie Fielding and George Thorpe) and obnoxious socialite girlfriend, in the 1946 British comedy film sequel Quiet Weekend.

Director Harold French’s 1946 British black and white comedy Quiet Weekend is the so-so follow-up to 1940’s hit Quiet Wedding, with a new screenplay based on the based on the long-running 1941 London West End play Quiet Weekend by Esther McCracken.

This time Derek Farr’s character Denys Royd and his parents Mildred and Arthur (Marjorie Fielding and George Thorpe) go to the country for a supposedly relaxing weekend at a run-down cottage, along with the married daughter and her family, but find poachers and other off-the-wall English characters dogging their path. Farr has asked along his obnoxious socialite girlfriend, Rowena Hyde (Helen Shingler), who infuriates one and all.

Quiet Weekend is some fun, but rather tattily made and shoddy looking, with only occasional glimpses of what made the first film such a success, though it works well as a family portrait and as a snapshot of post-war Austerity Britain. With shortages and rationing, there is no dinner, just supper, the family go looking for wild fruit to eat, and Arthur and his magistrate pal Adrian (Frank Cellier) go salmon poaching.

Quiet Wedding is remade as Happy Is the Bride (1958).

Several of the actors of 1941 film Quiet Wedding reprise their roles, notably Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding.

Also in the cast are Barbara White, Edward Rigby, Josephine Wilson, Gwynne Whitby, Ballard Berkeley, Judith Furse, Pat Field, Hélène Burls, George Merritt, Christopher Steele, Mary Martlew, Conway Palmer, Brian Weske, and Richard George. June Whitfield appears uncredited as a dancer.

Quiet Weekend is directed by Harold French, runs 92 minutes, is made by Associated British Picture Corporation, is released by Pathé Pictures (1946) (UK) and Distinguished Films (1948) (US), is written by Warwick Ward, Victor Skutezky, Stephen Black and T J Morrison, based on the play Esther McCracken, is shot in black and white by Eric Cross, is produced by Warwick Ward, scored by Charles Williams, and designed by D W Daniels.

It was shot at Welwyn Studios, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, and in Berkshire.

The cast are Derek Farr as Denys Royd, Frank Cellier as Adrian Barrasford, Marjorie Fielding as Mildred Royd, George Thorpe as Arthur Royd, Barbara White as Miranda Bute, Helen Shingler as Rowena Hyde, Edward Rigby as Sam Pecker, Josephine Wilson as Mary Jarrow, Gwynne Whitby as Marcia Brent, Ballard Berkeley as Jim Brent, Judith Furse as Ella Spender, Pat Field as Sally Spender, Hélène Burls as Bella, George Merritt as Police Sergeant, Christopher Steele as Vicar, Mary Martlew as Elena, Conway Palmer as Paul Perry, Richard George as Lorry Driver, Brian Weske as Johnnie, and June Whitfield as a dancer.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8623

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