Something Money Can't Buy

Something Money Can't Buy is a 1952 British comedy drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel and Moira Lister.[2] The film was made with backing from the NFFC as part of its British Film-Makers project with the Rank Organisation.[3] The film was distributed by Rank's General Film Distributors. In America it was released by Universal Pictures in 1953.

For the Mastercard slogan, see Priceless (advertising campaign).

Something Money Can't Buy
British Quad poster by Dougie Post
Directed byPat Jackson
Written byPat Jackson
J.L. Hodson
Produced byJoseph Janni
StarringAnthony Steel
Patricia Roc
Moira Lister
CinematographyC. M. Pennington-Richards
Edited bySidney Hayers
Music byNino Rota
Production
companies
British Film-Makers
Vic Films
Distributed byGeneral Film Distributors
Release date
  • 9 July 1952 (1952-07-09)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office£121,000[1]

Production

The film was shot at Pinewood Studios near London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alex Vetchinsky. The film was a rare comedy role for Steel, who made it immediately prior to shooting The Planter's Wife (1952). It involved Roc returning to London after two years in Paris, where she lived with her French husband. She and Steel had an affair during the making of the movie which resulted in Roc having Steel's baby.[4] It was the only comedy Steel made while a star.[5]

Plot

Harry and Anne Wilding return to civilian life after service in the army. They have trouble readjusting, and Harry eventually resigns from his council job and goes into business, selling food from a mobile canteen. Anne becomes jealous of the daughter of Harry's backer. Anne gives up her job to concentrate on her marriage.[6]

Cast

Reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin described it as "a double disappointment from the director of White Corridors; the poverty-stricken material apart, its staging is uncharacteristically flabby, with none of the polish and professionalism of its predecessor."[7]

Variety said it was "handled with an assured light touch by a competent cast".[8]

Pat Jackson later said "It ought to have been a good film, it had a certain charm, the story had a certain charm. I think I just did it badly, I directed badly, I don't know what it was, it just didn't work. It was my fault and that was it; it was a simple as that...It needed great lightness of touch, which I didn't get... It was all in the script, the script was charming. I think James and I wrote a nice script and he was a great help and a wonderful man, James. But no. I botched it."[9]

References
  1. BFI Collections: Michael Balcon Papers H3 reprinted in British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference By Sue Harper, Vincent Porter p 41
  2. "NEW BRITISH COMEDY". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 3 June 1953. p. 40. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  3. Harper & Porter p.41
  4. "Talking of Films". The Australian Women's Weekly. National Library of Australia. 13 February 1952. p. 31. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
  5. Vagg, Stephen (23 September 2020). "The Emasculation of Anthony Steel: A Cold Streak Saga". Filmink.
  6. Something Money Can't Buy Picture Show; London Vol. 59, Iss. 1533, (Aug 16, 1952): 5-6, 10
  7. SOMETHING MONEY CAN'T BUY Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 19, Iss. 216, (Jan 1, 1952): 124.
  8. Review of film at Variety
  9. "Pat Jackson interview" (PDF). British Entertainment History Project. 22 March 1991.

Bibliography
  • Harper, Sue & Porter, Vincent. British Cinema of the 1950s: The Decline of Deference. Oxford University Press, 2007.


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