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Mad About Men
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Wikipedia article
'Mad About Men' is a 1954 British Technicolor comedy film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Glynis Johns, Donald Sinden, Anne Crawford and Margaret Rutherford. It was written by Peter Blackmore, who also wrote the 1948 film 'Miranda' which preceded 'Mad About Men'. Johns appears in both films as the mermaid Miranda. However, Rank Films insisted it was not a sequel.
The film was shot at Pinewood Studios and on location at Polperro in Cornwall and Long Crendon in Oxfordshire.'A Touch Of The Memoirs' by Donald Sinden. Hodder & Stoughton Publ. (1982), pp. 203-4 Filming also took place in Brighton including at the Palace Pier. The film's sets were designed by the art director George Provis.
Plot
When gymnastics school teacher Caroline goes on holiday at her family's home in Cornwall, she meets her distant mermaid relative Miranda, who looks exactly like her. She agrees to let Miranda trade places with her, while she goes on a bicycling trip with a friend. Caroline feigns an accident, pretending that this requires her to use a wheelchair for a few weeks, thus providing a cover for the fact that Miranda has a fish tail instead of legs. Nurse Carey, who knows about Miranda [and was in the earlier film], is hired to attend Miranda.
Caroline is engaged to Ronald Baker, but when he shows up, Miranda does not like him at all. She decides to make Caroline a better match. She flirts outrageously with two eligible bachelors, Jeff Saunders and Colonel Barclay Sutton, right in front of Ronald. When she discovers that Ronald works in the government sanitation department (and approves of dumping garbage into the ocean), she dumps a tureen of cold soup on his head.
Meanwhile, Barbara Davenport, the colonel's fiance, takes an understandable dislike to Miranda. While out swimming, she discovers Miranda's secret and arranges for "Caroline" to sing at a charity concert, plotting to reveal her true nature. Caroline reads about the forthcoming concert during her holiday, guesses what Barbara intends, and rushes back to take Miranda's place, foiling Barbara's scheme.
Afterward, Jeff takes Caroline boating. When he tries to kiss her, she resists at first, then willingly gives in, while a somewhat sad Miranda watches.
Cast
* Glynis Johns as Caroline Trewella / Miranda Trewella
* Donald Sinden as Jeff Saunders
* Anne Crawford as Barbara Davenport
* Margaret Rutherford as Nurse Carey
* Dora Bryan as Berengaria, a mermaid friend of Miranda
* Nicholas Phipps as Colonel Barclay Sutton
* Peter Martyn as Ronald Baker
* Noell Purcell as Percy, a fisherman friend of Jeff
* Joan Hickson as Mrs Forster
* Judith Furse as Viola
* Irene Handl as Mme. Blanche
* David Hurst as Signor Mantalini, a musician
* Martin Miller as Dr. Fergus, a biologist
* Deryck Guyler as Editor
* Anthony Oliver as Pawnbroker
* Lawrence Ward as Alphonse
* Martin Boddey as Marco
* Ken Richmond as Zampa
* Harry Welchman as Symes
* Meredith Edwards as Police Constable
* Lucy Griffiths as Dr. Fergus' Secretary
* John Horsley as Sports Organiser
* Stringer Davis as the Vicar
* Henry B. Longhurst as Mayor
* Gibb McLaughlin as Ticket Collector
* Dandy Nichols as Nurse Carey's Landlady
* George Woodbridge as Fisherman Outside Pub
* Damaris Hayman as Tall Choral Society Singer
Critical reception
'Radio Times' called the film "outdated hokum, a clich-ridden story...this is certainly not the equal of the charming original."
AllMovie praised it as a "delightful sequel to the saucy British comedy-fantasy Miranda."
References
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