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Ha'penny Breeze
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Wikipedia article
'Ha'penny Breeze' is a 1950 British film. It was the first writing credit for Don Sharp who also appears as an actor.
Plot
David and his Australian friend Johnny return to a Suffolk village after the war to find the community completely dispirited. Gradually by their enthusiasm they win support for a scheme to enter a boat designed by David in a race.
Cast
*Edwin Richfield as David King
*Don Sharp as Johnny Craig
*Gwynneth Vaughan as Joan King
*Terry Everitt as Brian King
*Eva Rowland as Mrs. King
*Roger Maxwell as Mr. Simmonds
*John Powe as Barney
*Darcy Conyers as Richard Martin
*Rigby Foster as Len
Production
The film was an idea of Australians Don Sharp and Frank Worth who met in England. Sharp was appearing in a play with Conyers (and Richfield) called 'Cage Me a Peacock'. They were inspired by low budget films being made in Italy on location, which saved money by not using sets or stars. They decided to find a location and write a script around it. Conyers had an old sailing cutter at Pin Mill and suggested that as a location.
Sharp and Worth wrote the story together over a three-month period. They formed their own production company with Conyers and succeeded in raising finance with William Freshman attached as executive producer. The bulk of the money came from and George N. Gregory who sold his Leeds auction business to help finance. Filming took place in October 1949.
Associated British Pathe offered to distribute on the understanding that everyone would be paid ten pounds a week. A Leeds auctioneer chipped in a few thousand pounds and the filmmakers provided money themselves. When Associated British saw the film they covered the cost of the movie.
The film was shot in Pin Mill, a small fishing village on the River Orwell in Suffolk. Some scenes were shot in the Butt and Oyster inn.
Reception
The critic from 'The Scotsman' said the film had "too much of the naivete and the emotion of the amateur shine through... often the dialogue is trite and for most of the film the tempo is depressingly perambulatory" but praised the "camera's mobility and many a good character sketch by" the actors."HA'PENNY BREEZE": New British Productions
The Scotsman (1921-1950) [Edinburgh, Scotland] 30 Dec 1950: 7. "Has both charm and talent" said the 'Sunday Times'.Powell, Dilys. "Heroinanity." Sunday Times [London, England] 7 Jan. 1951: 2. The Sunday Times Digital Archive. Web. 16 Apr. 2014.
References
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