| Three Men in a Boat | |
|---|---|
.png) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Ken Annakin |
| Screenplay by | Hubert Gregg Vernon Harris |
| Based on | Three Men in a Boat byJerome K. Jerome |
| Produced by | Jack Clayton |
| Starring | Laurence Harvey Jimmy Edwards David Tomlinson Shirley Eaton Jill Ireland Lisa Gastoni |
| Cinematography | Eric Cross |
| Edited by | Ralph Kemplen |
| Music by | John Addison |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Independent Film Distributors |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Budget | £247,137[1] |
| Box office | £212,723[2] |
Three Men in a Boat is a 1956 BritishCinemaScope colourcomedy film directed byKen Annakin, starringLaurence Harvey,Jimmy Edwards,David Tomlinson andShirley Eaton.[3] It was written byHubert Gregg andVernon Harris based on the 1889novel of the same name byJerome K. Jerome.
The film is set in theEdwardian era. Harris, J, and George want to get away from it all. They decide to go on holiday boating up theRiver Thames toOxford, 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, theHampton 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.
Shirley Eaton had just madeSailor Beware for the same producers.[4]
The film was the 12th most popular movie at the British box office in 1957.[5] According toKinematograph Weekly the film was "in the money" at the British box office in 1957[6] and "created a surprise by smoothly sailing into the big money."[7]
James Woolf said "It was a funny film but it wasn't successful except in England and inParis, where it ran for nine months on theChamps-Élysées."[8]
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Jimmy Edwards andDavid Tomlinson should have been ideally cast inJerome'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."[9]
TheRadio 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."[10]
InBritish Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959David Quinlan rated the film as "mediocre", writing: "Colourful comedy lacks Jerome's original humour – just isn't funny."[11]
Leslie Halliwell said: "Flabby burlesque of a celebrated comic novel whose style is never even approached."[12]
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