Copyright 1955 by Wessex Film Productions. U.S. release through Continental Distributing: May 1957. New York opening at the 72nd Street Playhouse: 7 May 1957. U.K. release through British Lion: around April 1955. Australian release through Universal: 22 November 1956. 8,260 feet. 91 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Anthony Kent, RN, has just returned home on leave after three years abroad when his wife Mary is called away to visit her sick mother in Canada. Tony decides to take their three children, Peter, Anne and Fusty (against the wishes of Aunt Maud, who wants them to stay in her London flat) to his father's newly acquired country retreat. This turns out to be a dilapidated windmill which "Grampy" is in the process of renovating. After giving the family a cool reception, he carries on with his work, while Tony sets about getting the family settled in and preparing supper. In the days that follow, his inexperience causes a succession of disasters.
NOTES: Number 8 at the British box-office for 1955, the film was nowhere near as successful elsewhere, though it still raked in a fair amount of money. ITV Studios announced a DVD, but I'm not sure if this actually appeared on the market.
COMMENT: Although feminists have now elevated this dreary little movie to cult status (simply because of the director's gender), it stubbornly remains a dreary little comedy. The only attractive things about it are the Kentish locations at Conyers Creek and the introductory credit titles featuring caricatures of the crew: Bruce Montgomery ("Edmund Crispin" to me) is an organ-grinding monkey, Miss Toye a fairy queen ballerina. Other than these japes "Raising a Riot" is deadly.
OTHER VIEWS: This extremely heavy-handed "comedy" is of no use to those of us who require even the faintest whiff of subtlety in our screen fare. Only Ronald Squire manages to give the forced and thoroughly predictable proceedings a bit of zing with his typically put-down delivery. As for the plot — dull daddy does the domestic chores whilst mummy's away — with its toilet humor and obvious slapstick, I'd like to tell Dalrymple and company what they should have done with it. As for the direction, much as I'd like to say something helpful, I'm afraid the director's lack of prowess is beyond remedy. — JHR writing as George Addison.
SYNOPSIS: Lieutenant Commander Anthony Kent, RN, has just returned home on leave after three years abroad when his wife Mary is called away to visit her sick mother in Canada. Tony decides to take their three children, Peter, Anne and Fusty (against the wishes of Aunt Maud, who wants them to stay in her London flat) to his father's newly acquired country retreat. This turns out to be a dilapidated windmill which "Grampy" is in the process of renovating. After giving the family a cool reception, he carries on with his work, while Tony sets about getting the family settled in and preparing supper. In the days that follow, his inexperience causes a succession of disasters.
NOTES: Number 8 at the British box-office for 1955, the film was nowhere near as successful elsewhere, though it still raked in a fair amount of money. ITV Studios announced a DVD, but I'm not sure if this actually appeared on the market.
COMMENT: Although feminists have now elevated this dreary little movie to cult status (simply because of the director's gender), it stubbornly remains a dreary little comedy. The only attractive things about it are the Kentish locations at Conyers Creek and the introductory credit titles featuring caricatures of the crew: Bruce Montgomery ("Edmund Crispin" to me) is an organ-grinding monkey, Miss Toye a fairy queen ballerina. Other than these japes "Raising a Riot" is deadly.
OTHER VIEWS: This extremely heavy-handed "comedy" is of no use to those of us who require even the faintest whiff of subtlety in our screen fare. Only Ronald Squire manages to give the forced and thoroughly predictable proceedings a bit of zing with his typically put-down delivery. As for the plot — dull daddy does the domestic chores whilst mummy's away — with its toilet humor and obvious slapstick, I'd like to tell Dalrymple and company what they should have done with it. As for the direction, much as I'd like to say something helpful, I'm afraid the director's lack of prowess is beyond remedy. — JHR writing as George Addison.