Three Men in a Boat (1956 film)

Three Men in a Boat
Three Men in a Boat
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Ken Annakin
Written by	Hubert Gregg; Vernon Harris; Jerome K. Jerome (novel)
Produced by	John Woolf (uncredited); Jack Clayton
Starring	Laurence Harvey; Jimmy Edwards; David Tomlinson; Shirley Eaton
Cinematography	Eric Cross
Edited by	Ralph Kemplen
Music by	John Addison
Production; company	Romulus Films
Distributed by	Independent Film Distributors
Release date	25 December 1956;
Running time	84 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£247,137
Box office	£212,723

Three Men in a Boat is a 1956 British CinemaScope colour comedy film directed by Ken Annakin, starring Laurence Harvey, Jimmy Edwards, David Tomlinson and Shirley Eaton.^[3] It was written by Hubert Gregg and Vernon Harris based on the 1889 novel of the same name by Jerome K. Jerome.

Plot

The film is set in the Edwardian era. Harris, J, and George want to get away from it all. They decide to go on holiday boating up the River Thames to Oxford, taking with them their dog Montmorency. George is happy to get away from his job at the bank. Harris is glad to get away from Mrs. Willis, who is pressing him to marry her daughter Clara. And 'J' is more than anxious to take a holiday from his wife, Ethelbertha.

George meets three girls, Sophie Clutterbuck and sisters Bluebell and Primrose Porterhouse, who are also taking a ride up the river, and he hopes to see them again. The travellers get into various complications with the weather, the river, the boat, food, the Hampton Court Maze, tents, rain and locks. They connect with the girls again, and when things appear to be becoming interesting for the men, Mrs. Willis and her daughter and Ethelbertha show up, and things become even more interesting.

Cast

Laurence Harvey as George
Jimmy Edwards as Harris
David Tomlinson as Jerome “J”
Shirley Eaton as Sophie Clutterbuck
Jill Ireland as Bluebell Porterhouse
Lisa Gastoni as Primrose Porterhouse
Martita Hunt as Mrs Willis
Joan Haythorne as Mrs Porterhouse
Campbell Cotts as Ambrose Porterhouse
Adrienne Corri as Clara Willis
Noelle Middleton as Ethelbertha
Charles Lloyd-Pack as Mr Quilp
Robertson Hare as photographer
A. E. Matthews as 1st cricketer
Miles Malleson as 2nd cricketer
Ernest Thesiger as umpire
Hal Osmond as cabbie

Reception

Box office

The film was the 12th most popular movie at the British box office in 1957.^[4]

According to Kinematograph Weekly the film was "in the money" at the British box office in 1957.^[5]

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Jimmy Edwards and David Tomlinson should have been ideally cast in Jerome's delightful comedy. Unfortunately, the curious adaptation and clumsy handling have effectively destroyed most of the charm and humour of the original book. The slapstick is crude and uninventive."^[6]

The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 4/5 stars, writing: "The ensemble, including David Tomlinson, is amiability itself, while the parasol-toting girls are as radiant as the golden days of yesteryear."^[7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Colourful comedy lacks Jerome's original humour – just isn't funny."^[8]

Leslie Halliwell said: "Flabby burlesque of a celebrated comic novel whose style is never even approached."^[9]

References

^ Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 359
^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p.509
^ "Three Men in a Boat". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
^ LINDSAY ANDERSON, and DAVID DENT. "Time For New Ideas." The Times [London, England] 8 Jan. 1958: 9. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.
^ Billings, Josh (12 December 1957). "Others in the money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
^ "Three Men in a Boat". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 24 (276): 21. 1 January 1957 – via ProQuest.
^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 934. ISBN 9780992936440.
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 387. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 1025. ISBN 0586088946.

External links

Three Men in a Boat at IMDb

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[money-1] Chapman, J. (2022). The Money Behind the Screen: A History of British Film Finance, 1945-1985. Edinburgh University Press p 359

[2] Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p.509

[BFIsearch-3] "Three Men in a Boat". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

[4] LINDSAY ANDERSON, and DAVID DENT. "Time For New Ideas." The Times [London, England] 8 Jan. 1958: 9. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 11 July 2012.

[5] Billings, Josh (12 December 1957). "Others in the money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.

[6] "Three Men in a Boat". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 24 (276): 21. 1 January 1957 – via ProQuest.

[7] Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 934. ISBN 9780992936440.

[8] Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 387. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.

[9] Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 1025. ISBN 0586088946.

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