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Cardboard Cavalier
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Wikipedia article
'Cardboard Cavalier' is a 1948 British historical comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Sid Field, Margaret Lockwood and Jerry Desmonde.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090113221836/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/28736 BFI.org]
It was the last film for Forde and Field. Field died of a heart attack shortly after the film was released.
Plot
In an England under the rule of Oliver Cromwell, London barrow boy Sidcup Buttermeadow is unwittingly used as a spy for the exiled Charles II to deliver messages to his royalist supporters, and is aided by the object of his affection, Nell Gwynn.
Dressed as a Cavalier, Sidcup is pursued by Roundhead troops, but evades them with the help of a variety of people and a ghost.
When Charles is eventually restored as king, Sid is knighted and gets to kiss Nell Gwynn.
Cast
* Sid Field as Sidcup Buttermeadow
* Margaret Lockwood as Nell Gwynne
* Jerry Desmonde as Colonel Lovelace
* Jack McNaughton as Uriah Group
* Brian Worth as Tom Pride
* Edmund Willard as Oliver Cromwell
* Mary Clare as Milady Doverhouse
* Alfie Dean as Murdercasket
* Anthony Hulme as Charles II
* Miles Malleson as Judge Gorebucket
* Irene Handl as the ghost of Lady Agnes
* Joan Young as Maggie
* Claude Hulbert as Sylvester Clutterbuck
* Michael Brennan as Brother Barebones
* Peter Bull as Mosspot
* Vincent Holman as Lord Doverhouse
* John Salew as Smug
Production
The film was part of an ambitious production programme from J. Arthur Rank to meet an increased quota for British films. His intent was to make 60 over 12 months.
Sid Field's casting was announced in June 1948. He made the movie after a six-month tour of the US. Field's first film, 'London Town', had been a big flop but his popularity on stage encouraged Rank to try him again in films.
Pat Roc was meant to play the role of Nell Gwynn but reportedly turned it down and was replaced by Margaret Lockwood, who was keen to play comedy again after making a number of dramas. Field's son was born during filming on 5 August.
Filming started in June 1948. It was made at Denham Studios. Production of the film was interrupted by a strike from crew members in protest over recent sackings of film workers. Cast member Alfie Dean died as the result of an off-set accident during the period of filming.[http://thirdbanana.blogspot.com/2005/11/who-are-collinson-and-dean.html Aaron Neathery, "Who are Collinson and Dean?", 'The Third Banana', 8 November 2005]. Retrieved 22 February 2021
Filming ended in January 1949. Lockwood wrote in her memoirs that "we had a romp of a time with Sid Field."
Reception
The film was a critical and box-office disappointment.
"I was terribly distressed when I read the press notices of the film", wrote Lockwood.Margaret Lockwood, "Was I Difficult?", 'Picturegoer', 22 April 1950 p 15
'Filmink' stated the film "sounded like the sort of fun romp Bob Hope made so successfully...But those Hope vehicles were made by people who knew what they were doing...the makers of 'Cardboard Cavalier' seem hopelessly out of their depth, including (it must be admitted) Lockwood who isnt very good, mostly because she tries to be funny forgetting that in her earlier comedies she was more the straight person."
Some reviews have been much more positive. The critic Derek Winnert noted that the film was "well timed, sprightly and funny, and exuberantly played by a welcome vintage cast, as well as amusingly written by Noel Langley and nicely directed by the comedy expert Forde." 'Variety' spoke of Langley's script "blend[ing] comedy, bathos and sheer slapstick with skill and ingenuity" and also highlighted Lockwood as playing her role with "great gusto...verve and vivacity".https://archive.org/details/variety174-1949-04/page/n6/mode/1up?view=theater, 'Variety', April 1949. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
The film was banned in Syria in 1953.
References
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