The Girl in the Taxi is a 1937 British musical comedy film directed by André Berthomieu and starring Frances Day, Henri Garat and Lawrence Grossmith.[1] It was based on the stage musical The Girl in the Taxi and was part of a trend of operetta films produced during the decade.
| The Girl in the Taxi | |
|---|---|
.png) Frances Day and Mackenzie Ward in a still from the film. | |
| Directed by | André Berthomieu |
| Written by | |
| Based on | The Girl in the Taxi by Frederick Fenn and Arthur Wimperis |
| Produced by | |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Roy Clark |
| Edited by | Ray Pitt |
| Music by | Jean Gilbert |
Production company | British Unity Pictures |
| Distributed by | Associated British Film Distributors |
Release date | 3 September 1937 |
Running time | 70 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Synopsis edit
In Paris, Baron des Aubrais is the head of The Society for the Reward for Virtue, but at night he becomes a roué, and pursues the same woman admired by his son.
Cast edit
- Frances Day as Suzanne Pommarel
- Henri Garat as René Boislurette
- Lawrence Grossmith as Baron des Aubrais
- Jean Gillie as Jacqueline
- Mackenzie Ward as Hubert
- John Deverell as Emile Pomarel
- Helen Haye as Delphine
- Ben Field as Dominique
- Albert Whelan as Alexis
- Laurence Hanray as Charencey
- Joan Kemp-Welch as Suzanne Dupont
Production edit
The film was shot at Ealing Studios in London,[2] with sets designed by the art director Jean d'Eaubonne. A separate French-language version, Chaste Susanne, was shot at the same time by Berthomieu, with Henri Garat being the only actor to appear in both versions.
Critical reception edit
In a contemporary review Kine Weekly said "Though it never succeeds in getting very far away from its technical and dramatically dated origins, this screen adaptation of the popular operetta of a quarter of a century ago, when Paris was considered more naughty than it is today, is put over in spirited style by its cast, while the alternately piquant and broadly farcical situations arising from amatory indiscretions, principally at the Mouin Rouge, of the hypocritical old moralist, still carry a fair quota of laughs."[3]
The Radio Times Guide to Films gave the film 3/5 stars, writing: "The musical numbers are inadequate, but the farce is peppily played."[4]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Moderately piquant comedy. "[5]
References edit
- ^ "The Girl in the Taxi". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Wood, Linda (1986). British Films, 1927–1939. British Film Institute.
- ^ "The Girl in the Taxi". Kine Weekly. Vol. 246, no. 1584. 26 August 1937. p. 53 – via ProQuest.
- ^ Radio Times Guide to Films (18th ed.). London: Immediate Media Company. 2017. p. 365. ISBN 9780992936440.
- ^ Halliwell, Leslie (1989). Halliwell's Film Guide (7th ed.). London: Paladin. p. 402. ISBN 0586088946.
External links edit
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