Light Up the Sky! (film)
| Light Up the Sky! | |
|---|---|
.jpg) British quad poster by Stevens | |
| Directed by | Lewis Gilbert |
| Produced by | Lewis Gilbert |
| Written by | Vernon Harris |
| Based on | Play:Touch It Light by Robert Storey |
| Starring |
Ian Carmichael Tommy Steele Benny Hill Dick Emery |
| Music by | Douglas Gamley |
| Cinematography | John Wilcox |
| Edited by | Peter Tanner |
| Distributed by |
Bryanston Films (UK) Continental Distributing (USA) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 90 mins.[1] |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Light Up the Sky! is a 1960 British comedy drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring Ian Carmichael, Tommy Steele, Benny Hill and Dick Emery.[2] It was based on Robert Storey's West End play Touch it Light.[3][4]
Plot
This comedy is about a bumbling searchlight unit during the Second World War. Ensemble acting creates a series of intertwining stories that involve the various soldiers assigned to this post. Lt. Ogleby (Ian Carmichael) is the cheerful, inept officer in charge, then there is the womaniser whose concept of birth control is limited, the lovesick soldier unhappy over a misunderstanding with his girlfriend, the Cockney cook, the father-figure and several others.[5]
Cast
- Ian Carmichael as Lieutenant Ogleby
- Tommy Steele as Eric McGaffey
- Benny Hill as Syd McGaffey
- Sydney Tafler as Ted Green
- Victor Maddern as Lance Corporal Tomlinson
- Harry Locke as Roland Kenyon
- Johnny Briggs as Leslie Smith
- Cyril Smith as 'Spinner' Rice
- Dick Emery as Harry
- Cardew Robinson as Compere
- Susan Burnet as Jean
- Sheila Hancock as Theatre Act
- Fred Griffiths as Mr. Jennings
Critical reception
The Radio Times dismissed the film as a "hackneyed theatrical hand-me-down";[6] Allmovie called it an "unexceptional comedy";[7] TV Guide called it "pointless," but noted that "Comedian Hill exhibits the form that would later make him a popular television star in both the UK and US.," and admitted to finding the film "occasionally amusing";[8] but Film Threat called it "A great little wartime drama," and asked, "Why isn't this gem better known? ";[9] and Peter Burnett noted, "for British nostalgia fans and cineastes in general, it will be a fabulous treat."[10]
References
- ↑ "LIGHT UP THE SKY - British Board of Film Classification". www.bbfc.co.uk.
- ↑ "Light up the Sky! (1960)".
- ↑ Reid, John Howard (1 March 2006). "America's Best, Britain's Finest: A Survey of Mixed Movies". Lulu.com – via Google Books.
- ↑ "Production of Touch It Light - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 4 April 2012. Retrieved 2011-04-12.
- ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/film/fbvcjw/light-up-the-sky/
- ↑ "Light Up the Sky! (1960) - Lewis Gilbert - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie". AllMovie.
- ↑ "Light Up The Sky". TVGuide.com.
- ↑ Why isn't this gem better known? https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/light_up_the_sky/
- ↑ Burnett, Peter. "Light up the Sky! (1960)".
External links