Sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. While jack as a british college student only kinda works, jack is still a stitch. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charleys brazilian aunt donna lucia. His film career is not thought of highly, but some of that is due to jacks own attitude towards his films.
Read the full synopsis of charleys aunt, 1925, directed by scott sidney, with sydney chaplin, ethel shannon, james e. This dvd edition features a complete presentation of the featurelength comedy, charleys aunt from a verygood to excellent source print held by film preservation associates. Like niagara falls, charleys aunt stands the test of time. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. The story was based on the play charleys aunt by brandon thomas. Buy charleys aunt movie posters from movie poster shop. A talkie film version starring charles ruggles was released in 1930 and is one of the earliest sound comedies. This is our recommended home video edition of charleys aunt. Penley, a friend of thomas, who appeared in the principal role of lord.
The complications of the plot include the arrival of the real aunt and the attempts of an elderly fortune hunter to woo the bogus aunt. With charles ruggles, june collyer, doris lloyd, halliwell hobbes. Jack benny stars in this blackandwhite comedy caper from 1941. Complications begin when fancourt, in drag, becomes the love object of old spettigue and sir francis chesney. Charley s aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. It was one of a handful of leading roles for syd chaplin, older brother of the more famous charlie it is an adaptation of brandon thomas 1892 farce of the same name about an oxford university student who dresses up as a woman to fool a visitor. Its been made into numerous film versions since then. Overview of charleys aunt, 1925, directed by scott sidney, with sydney chaplin, ethel shannon, james e. His enthusiasm makes the film more than the sum of its parts. Charley s aunt 1925 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more.
I suppose like most people, i first saw charleys aunt, brandon thomas centurieslong theatrical chestnut, back in high school. Words of past images in 1892, when charleys aunt first saw the light of day, oxford had its serious side. With jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, anne baxter. Threatened with being sent down expelled from their college at oxford after the latest in a series of highspirited hijinks and miscellaneous delinquency, friends arthur, stinker and albert hit upon a seemingly ingenious ruse. Jack benny playing with enthusiasm and romping merrily and crazily along the route, takes fullest advantage of laugh opportunities. In 1890, two students at oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come from. The film isnt a comic masterwork but its a fun way to spend an hour and a half. The first starred sydney chaplin in 1925 and the second released in 1930 featured charlie. An audio recording of the london production has been released, but no cast album of the broadway.
Charleys aunt article about charleys aunt by the free. It marked the film debut of williams, who then returned to britain and became a major star. Now haywards douglas morrisson theatre gets into the act with its commissioned world premiere of charleys aunt 66, a new version of brandon thomas stillpopular 1892 farce. His radio show is filled with jokes about his film career. Charleys aunt the shakespeare theatre of new jersey. Charleys aunt oct 2, 1893 standard theatre original charleys aunt mar 19, 1906 manhattan theatre revival charleys aunt jun 1, 1925 dalys 63rd street theatre revival. A comedic favorite to this day with colleges and high schools, the early crossdressing farce first produced in 1892 broke all theatrical records wherever it played, and has become a recognized worldwide classic through countless stage revivals. Arthur askey took the leading role in a 1940 british film charleys bighearted aunt that developed themes from the original play. Matthew horne and jane asher in charleys aunt at menier chocolate factory.
Sydney chaplin sir fancourt babberley, ethel shannon ela delahay, james e. It was produced by former doyly carte opera company actor w. Value of charleys aunt original american one sheet. In charleys aunt, charley wyckham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison are two students who manage to persuade their colleague fancourt babberly benny to dress in drag and assume the guise of charleys brazilian aunt, donna lucia. Since that time, charleys aunt has been revived many times, been produced as a motion picture, both silent and with sound, aired in an original television production, and even adapted into a musical. This was the third of many screen adaptations of charleys aunt, the beloved 19thcentury stage farce. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charley s brazilian aunt donna lucia.
Delahay, phillips smalley sir francis chesney, eulalie jensen charleys aunt, david james jack chesney, jimmy harrison james harrison charley wykeham. Benny, predating jack lemmons work in some like it hot, is a marvel as the english earl posing as an oxford classmates aunt. This version of the popular comedy based on brandon thomass play features comedian jack benny as the lead. Her presence as a chaperone will allow him and his friend jack to ask their respective true loves, amy and kitty, for their hands in marriage. The story centres on lord fancourt babberley, an undergraduate whose friends jack and charley persuade him to impersonate the latters aunt. Tristram kenton for the guardian h as anyone noticed the link between this oncefamous 1892 farce by brandon. It was produced by former doyly carte opera companydoyly carte opera company. Charleys aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Charleys aunt 1925 scott sidney directs syd chaplin.
Charleys aunt 1925 christiecolumbia 19 1983 charleys aunt 1941 20th centuryfox 19 1983 charlie chan carries on 1931 fox 41 2005 note. With an original, recordbreaking run of 1,466 performances in 4 years at the theatre royal in london, 1892, charleys aunt has enjoyed several revivals, translations, and film adaptations, and. That the plot doesnt culminate in one giant comedic payoff is a slight drawback, but charleys aunt is wonderfully entertaining and a terrific showcase for the talents of charleys step. Charleys aunt productions 1948 broadway 1952 film 1958 west end awards wheres charley. Jack chesneys father, colonel chesney is visiting his son at oxford. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of crusty stephen spettigue. The play was first performed at the theatre royal, bury st edmunds in february 1892. The film is accompanied by a verygood music score performed on piano by david drazin. Charley s aunt is a 1925 american silent comedy film directed by scott sidney and starring syd chaplin, ethel shannon and lucien littlefield. It was an adaptation of the play charleys aunt by brandon thomas. Perhaps the best known film version was released in 1941, directed by archie mayo and starring jack benny in the principal role. Charleys bighearted aunt film british comedy guide. Charleys aunt 1925 broadway tickets, news, info, photos. An oxford undergraduate student and charleys friend, jack is in love with kitty verdun.
It was the third filmed version of the stage farce of the same name by brandon thomas. Charleys aunt 1925 charley chase jimmy jump series 1924 1925 charlie chaplin mutuals 19161917 the clinging vine 1926 the crackerjack 1925 the cruise of the jasper b 1926 d. After a seventeenyear vacation, charleys aunt is returning to the utah shakespeare festival. The dean is a keen egyptologist and desperate to secure funding for. Find movie and film cast and crew information for charleys aunt 1915 on allmovie. Kay francis gets to play the best character, the real charleys. Charleys aunt 1925 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. An oxford undergraduate student, charley is in love with amy spettigue. Its high time to unleash this utterly delightful british farce, complete with improbable disguise, young lovers, and an unflappable butler. Complete charleys aunt with charles grodin, vincent gardenia, anne francis, joyce bullifant, barrie ingham, efram zimbalist, jr.
Charleys aunt is a threeact farce that, when it premiered in 1892, was so wildly successful that it shattered theater records at the time, becoming the longestrunning play with well over a thousand performances in london, a broadway version, and an international tour it concerns two oxford students, jack and the eponymous charley, who are in love with kitty and amy, respectively. Charleys rich aunt, donna lucia, is visiting from brazil and the timing couldnt be better. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original london run of 1,466 performances. It remained one of bennys personal favourites among his own films. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charleys aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. While it takes a little while for the basic plot to be set up, once charleys aunt gets going, the laughs continue to build just as the complications mount.
On opening night at longviews columbia theatre in 1925, the featured film was a silent version of charleys aunt, starring charlie chaplin. Charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. Tv film 1961 bbc sundaynight play donna lucia dalvadorez episode. This comedy will grace our stage for the first time in our 56year history. Were your movie poster source for new releases and vintage movie posters. One had him in drag as title character charleys aunt 1925, from brandon thomas 1892 play. Charlies aunt 1982 part 1 the intro by average joe. A guide to visiting charleys aunt utah shakespeare festival. Charleys aunt is a 1930 american comedy film directed by al christie and starring charles ruggles, june collyer and hugh williams. Page spettigue, lucien littlefield brasset, alec b.
Charlie chaplin newsreel chaser, the 1928 first national 35 1999 chaz chase the unique comedian 1928 warner bros. He first falls for charleys aunts money, but then makes another discovery. Charleys aunt jun 1, 1925 dalys 63rd street theatre revival charleys aunt dec 22, 1953 city center revival charleys aunt jul 4, 1970 brooks atkinson theatre revival. American one sheet from the 1925 original release of the film with syd chaplin, ethel shannon. Charleys aunt 1961 the complaisant lover mary rhodes tv film 1961 the pursuers vi anne francis 2,311 words view diff exact match in snippet view article find links to article. Im charleys aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. More unabashed hilarity with this hit from the late 19th century. Charleys aunt characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. Charleys aunt 1961 the complaisant lover mary rhodes tv film 1961 the pursuers vi daniel hugh kelly 916 words view diff exact match in snippet view article find links to article.
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