Rent Laughter in Paradise (1951)

Classic British Comedy - Laughter in Paradise review by GI

A gentle British comedy from the classic period of British film and comedy in particular. It also boasts Alastair Sim, one of the greatest of British actors and a comic genius. Here he is one of four relatives who are set to inherit a large amount of money from a recently deceased uncle. But the old fella was a notorious practical joker in life and in his will he sets each of the four a task they much complete to get the cash. Sim's character is a writer of trashy novels who has to get himself imprisoned for 28 days, which will risk his engagement to his fiancé (Joyce Grenfell). Another has to rob his own bank; the cad and shameless womaniser of the bunch has to marry the first woman he meets and the fourth, a nasty snob, has to get a job as a chambermaid. Their attempts to complete these tasks sets up the films basic story arc. Whilst the various storylines are sometimes not as funny as perhaps you'd expect they do highlight different aspects of British society in the 50s, aspects of which may make the film seem very dated today. This is one of those films you'll have a nostalgia for or it will seem a bit limp. It boasts John Laurie of Dad's Army fame and an early bit part for Audrey Hepburn.

British Comedy. - Laughter in Paradise review by Steve

Formula fifties farce, but with funnier, more plentiful gags than most. A quality cast of British light comedy pros squeeze all the laughs out of a pretty good premise: the will of a dead practical joker makes some unusual conditions of its four beneficiaries. And so they all learn life lessons.

It's an anthology of four intertwined tales. The film is actually quite conceptual, as it explores a single comedy formula; the fish out of water story. These contrasting heirs are compelled to carry out a task that is contrary to their character. So, George Cole is a spineless clerk who must hold up his bank with a water pistol.

The best of these features Alastair Sim as law abiding crime writer who has to get banged up in stir for 28 days. The complication is he is due to marry a frightful officer in the women's army at the weekend, played by an ultra-toothy Joyce Grenfell. As always, they are a fine comic match.

And there's the bonus of a brief cameo for Audrey Hepburn, who gets an introducing credit as a cigarette girl. It's an undemanding, entertaining comedy with a twist ending which will surprise no one. But the splendid cast is given space to bring their schtick to the amusing scenarios, and they transform it into a minor classic.