Isn't Life Wonderful! is a 1953 British technicolor period comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Cecil Parker, Eileen Herlie and Donald Wolfit.[4] The film was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British with sets designed by the art director Terence Verity. It was released in the United States as Uncle Willie's Bicycle Shop, the title of Brock Williams original 1948 novel based on his boyhood experiences.[5]

Isn't Life Wonderful!
Directed byHarold French
Screenplay byBrock Williams
Based onUncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop by Brock Williams[1]
Produced byWarwick Ward
StarringCecil Parker
Eileen Herlie
Donald Wolfit
Peter Asher
CinematographyErwin Hillier
Edited byEdward B. Jarvis
Music byPhilip Green
Production
company
Distributed byAssociated British-Pathé
Release date
  • 16 November 1953 (1953-11-16)
Running time
81 minutes[2]
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office£97,710[3]

Plot

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In Edwardian England, alcoholic Uncle Willie (Donald Wolfit) is an embarrassment to his family. Head of the household father (Cecil Parker), decides to set Willie up as the manager of a bicycle shop, hoping to impress visiting American heiress Virginia van Stuyden (Dianne Foster). The surprise for everyone comes when Uncle Willie's little shop begins to prosper.

Cast

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Critical reception

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TV Guide called it "A pleasant little charmer";[6] while Sky Cinema wrote, "Director Harold French skilfully milks its situations for all they are worth...No big stars in this film, which makes it an unexpected treat. Based on an equally entertaining novel Uncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop. Donald Wolfit stars as the alcoholic Uncle Willie, Cecil Parker suffers splendidly as Father."[7]

References

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  1. ^ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-095194-3 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "ISN'T LIFE WONDERFUL - British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk.
  3. ^ Vincent Porter, 'The Robert Clark Account', Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television, Vol 20 No 4, 2000 p502
  4. ^ "Isn't Life Wonderful! (1953)". Archived from the original on 28 August 2016.
  5. ^ "UNCLE WILLIE AND THE BICYCLE SHOP, by Brock Williams— George G. Harrap and Co, LTD., London". Sydney Morning Herald. 9 April 1949.
  6. ^ "Isn't Life Wonderful!". TVGuide.com.
  7. ^ "Isn't Life Wonderful!".
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