The Lady Craved Excitement Explained

The Lady Craved Excitement
Director:Francis Searle
Producer:Anthony Hinds
Based On:a BBC radio serial by Edward J. Mason
Starring:Hy Hazell
Michael Medwin
Sidney James
Andrew Keir
Music:Frank Spencer
Cinematography:Walter J. Harvey
Editing:John Ferris
Studio:Hammer Films
Distributor:Exclusive Films (UK)
Runtime:60 mins
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English

The Lady Craved Excitement is a 1950 British comedy second feature ('B')[1] film directed by Francis Searle and starring Hy Hazell, Michael Medwin and Sid James.[2] [3] [4] It was written by John Gilling based on the 1949 BBC radio serial The Lady Craved Excitement by Edward J. Mason.[5] An early Hammer film, it is significant as one of five films shot at Oakley Court and the first to feature its famous exterior, located next door to Bray Studios.[6]

Plot

Pat's craving for excitement hampers cabaret artists Pat and Johnny's careers. She leads them into a number of dangerous situations, but also helps to uncover a conspiracy to smuggle valuable works of art out of the country.[7]

Cast

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "A light crime-comedy with some impossible and quite amusing situations; suitable entertainment for the young."[8]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Light comedy-thriller has plenty of plot, but is a trifle dull considering the source is a radio serial."[9]

Britmovie wrote: "Barely watchable by today’s standards (and probably not much more tolerable at the time), it nevertheless remains of passing interest for its cast, which includes Michael Medwin, Sid James and Andrew Keir, all of them then in the early stages of what would prove to be lengthy and successful careers."[10]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Chibnall, Steve . The British 'B' Film . McFarlane . Brian . . 2009 . 978-1-8445-7319-6 . London . 77.
  2. Web site: The Lady Craved Excitement . 9 September 2024 . British Film Institute Collections Search.
  3. Web site: The Lady Craved Excitement . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120712005049/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6ae65e2b . 2012-07-12 . BFI.
  4. Web site: The Lady Craved Excitement (1950) . Radio Times.
  5. Web site: The Lady Craved Excitement . 9 September 2024 . BBC Programme Index.
  6. Web site: The Lady Craved Excitement . 17 September 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212935/http://www.hammer-graveyard.org.uk/Filmography/1950's/1950/theladycravedex.html . 3 March 2016 . dead . dmy-all .
  7. News: The-Lady-Craved-Excitement - Trailer - Cast - Showtimes - NYTimes.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20140924045153/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/98467/The-Lady-Craved-Excitement/overview?module=Search&mabReward=relbias%3Ar. dead. 2014-09-24. Movies & TV Dept.. The New York Times. Sandra Brennan. 2014.
  8. 1 January 1950 . The Lady Craved Excitement . . 17 . 193 . 140 . ProQuest.
  9. Book: Quinlan, David . British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 . . 1984 . 0-7134-1874-5 . London . 334.
  10. Web site: The Lady Craved Excitement . https://web.archive.org/web/20160529131047/http://www.britmovie.co.uk/films/The-Lady-Craved-Excitement_1950/ . 29 May 2016 . 9 September 2024 . Britmovie.