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The Butler's Dilemma
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Wikipedia article
'The Butler's Dilemma' is a 1943 black-and-white British comedy film, directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Richard Hearne in a dual role as Rodney Playfair and a Butler called Chapman, Ronald Shiner as Ernie, Ian Fleming, Francis L. Sullivan, Judy Kelly and Hermione Gingold.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116195604/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/28251?view=cast BFI.org] It was produced by Elisabeth Hiscott, Graham Cutts for Shaftesbury Films, and filmed at British National Studios.
Plot
A group of friends undertake a number of deceptions in order to stage an illicit gambling party. Wimpish Rodney Playfair (Hearne) is persuaded, by a promise to erase his gambling debts, to impersonate an old manservant named Chapman (also played by Hearne) for a few weeks in order to unwittingly provide an alibi for an accomplished thief. Hearne's dual role alternates between him playing the timid young Playfair, (in effect Hearne playing his real age) and the doddery butler 'Chapman', who is 'Mr Pastry' in all but name.
Cast
* Richard Hearne as Rodney Playfair
* Francis L. Sullivan as Leo Carrington
* Judy Kelly as Ann
* Hermione Gingold as Aunt Sophie
* Henry Kendall as Carmichael
* Andr Randall as Vitello
* Ian Fleming as Sir Hubert Playfair
* Ralph Truman as Bishop
* Wally Patch as Tom
* Ronald Shiner as Ernie
* Marjorie Rhodes as Mrs Plumb
* Arthur Denton as Detective
* Alf Goddard as Policeman
Critical reception
'TV Guide' gave the film two out of five stars, calling it, "Terribly tepid."
References
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