You're Only Young Twice is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Terry Bishop and starring Duncan Macrae, Joseph Tomelty, Patrick Barr, Charles Hawtrey and Diane Hart.[1] It was based on the play What Say They? by James Bridie. The film was produced by the government backed Group 3 Films and shot at Southall Studios with sets designed by the art director Ray Simm.
| You're Only Young Twice | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | Terry Bishop |
| Written by | Reginald Beckwith Terry Bishop Lindsay Galloway |
| Based on | What Say They? by James Bridie |
| Produced by | John Baxter Barbara K. Emary |
| Starring | Duncan Macrae Joseph Tomelty Patrick Barr Charles Hawtrey Diane Hart |
| Cinematography | Jo Jago |
| Edited by | Bernard Gribble |
| Music by | Cedric Thorpe Davie |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Associated British-Pathé (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 81 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Premise
A young woman visiting a Scottish university in search of her uncle, who is in hiding from the authorities, is mistaken for the principal's secretary, so she pursues the impersonation.
Cast
- Duncan Macrae as Professor Hayman
- Joseph Tomelty as Dan McEntee / Connell O'Grady (writer)
- Patrick Barr as Sir Archibald Asher
- Charles Hawtrey as Adolphus Hayman, President of Temperance Society
- Diane Hart as Ada Shore / posing as "Miss Lamplighter" (pending new principal's secretary)
- Robert Urquhart as Sheltie
- Edward Lexy as Lord Carshennie
- Roddy McMillan as Mr Milligan, President of Students' Union Council
- Jacqueline Mackenzie as Nellie
- Eric Woodburn as the Bedellus
- Molly Urquhart as Lady Duffy
- Ronnie Corbett as Mr Freddie Mather, President of the Men's Union
- Reginald Beckwith as BBC Commentator
Production
John Grierson, head of Group 3, thought it had "some of the fastest and best dialogue in a generation."[2]
Critical reception
The Radio Times has described it as a "theatrical comedy," which was "shakily brought to the screen...the story involves mistaken identity, Celtic poetry, horse racing and the rigging of Rectorial elections. Blink and you'll miss Ronnie Corbett in what, of course, can only be described as a small role."[3]
References
Bibliography
- Harper, Sue & Porter, Vincent. British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference. Oxford University Press, 2007.
