Turkey Time *** (1933, Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn, Dorothy Hyson, Robertson Hare) – Classic Movie Review 10,608

The London Aldwych Theatre farce acting trio of Tom Walls, Ralph Lynn and Robertson Hare are back for director Tom Walls’s 1933 black and white British farce Turkey Time from the expert Ben Travers. It is a funny, fast-paced Christmas-set comedy about a feuding family at the seaside, where a a group of guests come to stay with the Stoatt family in the town of Eden Bay for Christmas. The screenplay is by Ben Travers, adapted from his own 1931 play Turkey Time by Ben Travers, one of the famous Aldwych Farces.

Staying with his future in-laws, previously engaged philanderer Max (Walls) becomes infatuated with (Dorothy Hyson), and silly ass David (Lynn) also becomes involved with her, while the roguish Max (Walls) puts the blame for his night of lust on the henpecked man of the house, the feeble Edwin Stoatt (Hare). Oh, calamity!

Fans of the actors and playwright Travers will know what to expect, and this is a pretty good example of all their work. The production is very basic but the humour has survived the test of time surprisingly well.

Also in the cast are Mary Brough, Veronica Rose, Norma Varden, D A Clarke-Smith, Marjorie Corbett, Daphne Scorer, Gwen Clifford, O B Clarence and George Merritt.

Tom Walls (18 February 1883 – 27 November 1949).

The hit series of film adaptations of the Aldwych Farces began with Rookery Nook in 1930 and ran throughout the Thirties.

Turkey Time runs 72 minutes, is made by British Gaumont, is released by Gaumont British Distributors, is written by Ben Travers, adapted from his own play, is shot in black and white by Charles Van Enger, is produced by Michael Balcon, is scored by Jack Beaver and is designed by Alfred Junge.

It was remade for TV in 1970 as Turkey Time with a lovely cast that includes Margot Field, Betty Hare, Eunice Gayson, Arthur Lowe, Gladys Henson, Richard Briers, Terence Alexander, Elizabeth Knight and Derek Sydney.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,608

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