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John and Julie
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Wikipedia article
'John and Julie' (1955) is a British comedy film, starring Colin Gibson, Lesley Dudley, Noelle Middleton and Moira Lister, and featuring Peter Sellers and Sid James in early screen roles.
Plot
The film is set in 1953 in the week leading up to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
John (Gibson) and Julie (Dudley) are two young children from Dorset who are eager to see the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in spite of the fact that their respective parents have no intention of going. When the two are left alone they decide to run off to London to see John's 'Uncle Ben' who is in the Life Guards and therefore "he knows the queen".
They steal a horse and take it to the railway station where they buy two tickets to London but John is put off when he loses his ticket. Luckily Julie gets off too. Next Julie joins a group of Brownies on their chartered bus to London, but John is not allowed on because he is a boy. He steals a bike to follow the bus, with each theft leaving an apology note. Julie asks the bus to stop to go to the toilet but is actually trying to feed John.
Eventually in London they get separated in the huge crowd. Julie is taken under the wing of a well-dressed street girl. They are reunited in Trafalgar Square.
Along their way, they encounter different quirky and eccentric people who help them achieve their goal and see the Queen's procession.
At the end of the film all the individuals who were part of the story appear in the crowds watching the Queen go to her coronation.
Cast
* Colin Gibson as John Pritchett
* Lesley Dudley as Julie
* Noelle Middleton as Miss Stokes
* Moira Lister as Dora
* Wilfrid Hyde-White as Sir James, a Field Marshal in the Life Guards
* Sid James as Mr. Pritchett, John's father
* Megs Jenkins as Mrs. Pritchett, John's mother
* Joseph Tomelty as Mr. Davidson, a judge on holiday from America
* Constance Cummings as Mrs. Davidson, his wife
* Patric Doonan as Jim Webber, a bicycle shop owner
* Andrew Cruickshank as Uncle Ben, a corporal in the Life Guards
* Peter Coke as captain in the Life Guards
* Colin Gordon as Mr. Swayne, a boys' group leader
* Winifred Shotter as Mrs. Swayne, his wife
* Peter Jones as Jeremy
* Vincent Ball as Digger
* Peter Sellers as Police Constable Diamond
* Patrick Connor as Trooper Rogers
* Philip Stainton as a London police sergeant
* Mona Washbourne as Miss Rendlesham
* Molly Weir as Landlady
* Katie Johnson as woman in street
Frazer Hines who later became known for his portrayal of Jamie McCrimmon in 'Doctor Who' had a minor role.
Production
Filming took place at Beaconsfield Studios. It is interspersed with footage from the day of the coronation.
Reception
In September 1956, 'Maclean's' film reviewer, Clyde Gilmour described the film as, "A predictable little comedy-adventure, good fun for most youngsters and bolstered by newsreel shots of the actual event."
'Halliwell's Film Video & DVD Guide' describes the film as, "Genial little family comedy full of stock comic characters."Walker, 2004, p. 444
Box Office
According to the National Film Finance Corporation, the film made a comfortable profit.U.S. MONEY BEHIND 30% OF BRITISH FILMS: Problems for the Board of TradeThe Manchester Guardian 4 May 1956: 7
Home Media
In 2007, 'John and Julie' was released on DVD as part of the Long Lost Comedy Classics collection.
References
Bibliography
* Walker, John. (ed). (2004). 'Halliwell's Film Video & DVD Guide'. HarperCollins Entertainment. 19th edition
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