Britannia of Billingsgate
1933 British film by Sinclair Hill
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Britannia of Billingsgate is a 1933 British musical comedy film directed by Sinclair Hill and starring Violet Loraine, Gordon Harker, Kay Hammond and John Mills.[1] It was written by George Moresby-White and Ralph Stock based on the 1931 play Britannia of Billingsgate by Christine Jope-Slade and Sewell Stokes.[2]
Ralph Stock
| Britannia of Billingsgate | |
|---|---|
| |
| Directed by | Sinclair Hill |
| Written by | George Moresby-White Ralph Stock |
| Based on | Britannia of Billingsgate by Sewell Stokes and Christine Jope-Slade |
| Produced by | Michael Balcon |
| Starring | Violet Loraine Gordon Harker Kay Hammond John Mills |
| Cinematography | Mutz Greenbaum |
| Edited by | Frederick Y. Smith |
| Music by | Bretton Byrd Jack Beaver |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Gaumont British Distributors |
Release date |
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Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
It was shot at the Lime Grove Studios in London. The film's sets were designed by the art director Alfred Junge.[3]
Plot
A family who work in the fish trade at Billingsgate Market encounter a film crew who are shooting there.[3]
Cast
- Violet Loraine as Bessie Bolton
- Gordon Harker as Bert Bolton
- Kay Hammond as Pearl Bolton
- John Mills as Fred Bolton
- Drusilla Wills as Mrs Wrigley
- Walter Sondes as Harold Hogarth
- Glennis Lorimer as Maud
- Anthony Holles as Guidobaldi
- Joyce Kirby as Joan
- Gibb McLaughlin as Westerbrook
- Grethe Hansen as Gwen
- Wally Patch as Harry
- Ernest Sefton as publicity man
Speedway scenes
The motorcycle speedway scenes from the film were shot at Lea Bridge Stadium,[4] featuring some of the leading riders in Britain at the time: Colin Watson, Arthur Warwick, Gus Kuhn, Tom Farndon, Claude Rye and Ron Johnson.[5][6]
Reception
Film Weekly wrote: "The producers of Britannia of Billingsgate have made a thoroughly British comedy which also has the advantage of being a good film. The progrens from an East End fish-and-chip shop to a West End film studio of Mrs. Britannia Bolton, the Pride of Billingsgate, is paved with laughter."[7]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Sound comedy on popular lines with marked Cockney flavour, broad rather than subtle in characterisation. Its strong point consists of settings in Billingsgate market, a real film studio, and a dirt-track sequence. Smooth direction helps an unconvincing scenario, and the stars come over well, especially Violet Loraine, whose screen debut is helped by several songs in her very individual style."[8]