The fun really begins when, for reasons far too complicated to detail here, both jack s father sir francis chesney laird cregar and amy s uncle stephen. Nov 10, 2012 charleys aunt 20 september 10 november 2012. I love charley s aunt and hope you also love this hard to find gem. Tv film 1961 bbc sundaynight play donna lucia dalvadorez episode. The complications of the plot include the arrival of the real aunt and the attempts of an elderly fortune hunter to woo the bogus aunt. It broke all historic records for plays of any kind, with an original london run of 1,466 performances.
It was an adaptation of the play charleys aunt by brandon thomas. Charleys aunt 1941 film charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. The film is one of many to be made based on the victorian farce charleys aunt. Charleys aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. It was produced by former doyly carte opera company actor w. It is an adaptation of the british play charleys aunt by brandon thomas. Charley s aunt is a threeact farce that, when it premiered in 1892, was so wildly successful that it shattered theater records at the time, becoming the longestrunning play with well over a thousand performances in london, a broadway version, and an international tour it concerns two oxford students, jack and the eponymous charley, who are in love with kitty and amy, respectively. Sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. If youre going to drag an aunt into the business, we may as well wait till they all come back from scotland. Ralf and charley peter vogel are planning a party in order to meet ulla and britta. This comedy will grace our stage for the first time in our 56year history.
Charleys aunt was given in a german translation as charleys tante at weimar in august 1894. Inspector maigret is traveling to the french countryside to visit his friend, the duchess of saintfiacre. It remained one of bennys personal favourites among his own films. Jul 28, 2007 sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. I suppose like most people, i first saw charley s aunt, brandon thomas centurieslong theatrical chestnut, back in high school. Charley s aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Charleys rich aunt, donna lucia, is visiting from brazil and the timing couldnt be better. Utilizing a gloriously unconvincing broada english accent, benny is cast as lord fancourt babberly, a somewhat overaged undergraduate at oxford university. Brandon thomas s giddy farce demolished all box office records, clocking up 1,466 performances between 1892 and 1896. Charley s aunt is a threeact farce that, when it premiered in 1892, was so wildly successful that it shattered theater records at the time, becoming the longestrunning play with well over a thousand performances in london, a broadway version, and an international tour. The first starred sydney chaplin in 1925 and the second released in 1930 featured charlie ruggles in the lead. When donna lucia dalvadorez fails to arrive to act as chaperone, jack and charley have to find a substitute in a hurry. Charley s aunt 1961 the complaisant lover mary rhodes tv film 1961 the pursuers vi daniel hugh kelly 916 words view diff exact match in snippet view article find links to article.
Charleys aunt 1963 changes the movie database tmdb. Victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their wealthy playboy friend, lord fancourt babberly jack benny, to impersonate charley s. Jack benny playing with enthusiasm and romping merrily and crazily along the route, takes fullest advantage of laugh opportunities. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charley s brazilian aunt donna lucia.
A comedic favorite to this day with colleges and high schools, the early crossdressing farce first produced in 1892 broke all theatrical records wherever it played, and has become a recognized worldwide classic through countless stage revivals. The play was first performed at the theatre royal, bury st edmunds in february 1892. Now the aunt can chaperone while the boys ask the girls to marry them. See the full list of charley s aunt cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Kobalt music publishing, and 2 music rights societies.
An austrian version of the famous farce charleys aunt. Jack flings down his pen, rises and goes to fireplace. More unabashed hilarity with this hit from the late 19th century. Arthur askeys professional nickname was bighearted arthur, which was added to the title to distinguish it from jack benny s version, for its limited american release. Luckily, charley s aunt from brazil where the nuts come from is coming for a visit. Two students, charley wyckham hugh williams and jack chesney rodney mclennan, are in love with two young ladies, amy and kitty. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits. The film is simply directed, maintaining its stage bound roots. Charleys aunt the winnipesaukee playhousemeredith nh. Tristram kenton for the guardian h as anyone noticed the link between this oncefamous 1892 farce by brandon. The opening title card of this film reads, twentieth centuryfox presents jack benny in charley s aunt brandon thomas immortal comedy. But without a chaperone, they cant meet their girls, amy and kitty. In 1890, two students at oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come from. This was the third of many screen adaptations of charley s aunt, the beloved 19thcentury stage farce.
Babbs roommates jack chesney james ellison and charley wyckeham richard haydn, in his film debut are desirous of. This was the third of many screen adaptations of charleys aunt, the beloved 19thcentury stage farce. This version of the popular comedy based on brandon thomas s play features comedian jack benny as the lead. The opening title card of this film reads, twentieth centuryfox presents jack benny in charleys aunt brandon thomas immortal comedy. Penley, a friend of thomas, who appeared in the principal role of lord. A guide to visiting charleys aunt utah shakespeare festival. The dean is a keen egyptologist and desperate to secure funding for.
After a seventeenyear vacation, charleys aunt is returning to the utah shakespeare festival. It marked the film debut of williams, who then returned to britain and became a major star. When charley s aunt donna lucia dalvadorez kay francis is detained, jack and charley coerce babbs, who has dressed up as an old lady for a school play, to pose as the absent donna lucia. The first starred sydney chaplin in 1925 and the second released in 1930 featured charlie. Benny, predating jack lemmons work in some like it hot, is a marvel as the english earl posing as an oxford classmates aunt.
Kay francis gets to play the best character, the real charleys aunt. Charley s aunt jun 1, 1925 daly s 63rd street theatre revival charley s aunt dec 22, 1953 city center revival charley s aunt jul 4, 1970 brooks atkinson theatre revival. Media in category charley s aunt the following 21 files are in this category, out of 21 total. Since that time, charleys aunt has been revived many times, been produced as a motion picture, both silent and with sound, aired in an original television production, and even adapted into a musical. Her presence as a chaperone will allow him and his friend jack to ask their respective true loves, amy and kitty, for their hands in marriage. Complications begin when fancourt, in drag, becomes the love object of old spettigue and sir francis chesney. Oct 02, 2012 matthew horne and jane asher in charleys aunt at menier chocolate factory. Arthur askey took the leading role in a 1940 british film charley s bighearted aunt that developed themes from the original play. Jack benny stars here as babbs, an oxford student who. In its day, charley s aunt was the original west end blockbuster. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of crusty stephen spettigue. With peter alexander, maria sebaldt, peter vogel, astrid frank. His enthusiasm makes the film more than the sum of its parts.
Its high time to unleash this utterly delightful british farce, complete with improbable disguise, young lovers, and an unflappable butler. It is based on the british writer brandon thomass 1892 play charleys aunt. Otto dernberg is in town for an important meeting when he falls smitten with the fabulous carlotta ramirez. Charleys aunt is a 1930 american comedy film directed by al christie and starring charles ruggles, june collyer and hugh williams. A talkie film version starring charles ruggles was released in 1930 and is one of the earliest sound comedies. Charleys bighearted aunt film british comedy guide. Ray bolger demonstrates his agility in wheres charley. While in town otto visits his kid brother, ralf, who is best friends with charley. Disc 2 charley s aunt 1963 starring peter alexander dr. With charles grodin, vincent gardenia, anne francis, joyce bulifant.
While jack as a british college student only kinda works, jack is still a stitch. Spettigue halliwell hobbes, a very strict guardian who wont let them see the young men. Stemmle and starring fritz rasp, paul kemp, and max gulstorff. Like niagara falls, charley s aunt stands the test of time.
The story centres on lord fancourt babberley, an undergraduate whose friends jack and charley persuade him to impersonate the latters aunt. Find movie and film cast and crew information for charley s aunt 1915 on allmovie. The other standout performers are laird cregar, at the time in his twenties and easily immitating a man twice his age and kay francis, a model of class and sophistication as charleys real aunt. Threatened with being sent down expelled from their college at oxford after the latest in a series of highspirited hijinks and miscellaneous delinquency, friends arthur, stinker and albert hit upon a seemingly ingenious ruse.
Then he discovers that his aunt, a brazilian woman he hardly knows, is coming for lunch. Things get even more silly as babbs is soon being hounded by suitors interested in the aunt s considerable fortune. Charleys tante is a 1934 german comedy film directed by robert a. It was the third filmed version of the stage farce of the same name by brandon thomas. The play concludes with three pairs of young lovers united. Charleys aunt the shakespeare theatre of new jersey. Overview of charley s aunt, 1941, directed by archie mayo, with jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, at turner classic movies. Victor garber jack chesney charles grodin lord fancourt babberly anne francis donna lucia dalvadorez vincent gardenia stephen spettigue efrem zimbalist jr. His radio show is filled with jokes about his film career. His film career is not thought of highly, but some of that is due to jacks own attitude towards his films. Spettigue halliwell hobbes, a very strict guardian who. Charley s aunt oct 2, 1893 standard theatre original charley s aunt mar 19, 1906 manhattan theatre revival charley s aunt jun 1, 1925 daly s 63rd street theatre revival. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charleys brazilian aunt donna lucia. Charley s aunt 1961 the complaisant lover mary rhodes tv film 1961 the pursuers vi anne francis 2,311 words view diff exact match in snippet view article find links to article.
Amy is about to go away, and charley thinks he may miss his opportunity to ask for her hand. No quotes approved yet for charleys tant e charley s aunt. Sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charley s aunt on disc. The play concludes with three pairs of young lovers united, along with an older pair charleys real aunt and jacks widowed father. Charley s aunt jack chesney and charley wykeham, two undergraduates at oxford university, are in lovejack with kitty verdun, ward of stephen spettigue the oxford solicitor, and charley with amy spettigue, the solicitors niece. The film isnt a comic masterwork but its a fun way to spend an hour and a half. By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charley s aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. Open auditions for cast and crew for charleys aunt directed by jay thompson will be held on. Wheres charley original london cast recording licensed to youtube by the orchard music on behalf of stage door. Perhaps the best known film version was released in 1941, directed by archie mayo and starring jack benny in the principal role. Selected scenes from charley s aunt including video examples, context and character information. Our fall farce, charley s aunt a hilarious farce written by brandon thomas and directed by ed knights. Open auditions for cast and crew for charleys aunt directed by jay thompson will be held on monday, january 4 and tuesday, january 5. Sir francourt babbs babberly gets drafted by his old school chums charley and jack to pose as charley s aunt, a rich widow, to chaperon a meeting between the boys and their sweethearts, amy and kitty.
Im charley s aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charley s aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. Charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. Jack benny brings his own distinctive touch to brandon thomas venerable and oftfilmed stage farce charley s aunt. Jack and charley, undergraduates at oxford, have each fallen in love. Ray bolger s wild impersonation of charley s perennial aunt in the musical show, where s charley. An austrian version of the famous farce charley s aunt. With jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, anne baxter. The film s sets were designed by art director franz schroedter.