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{{Short description|1949 British film by Thornton Freeland}}
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{{Infobox Film
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
⚫
{{Infobox film
| name = Brass Monkey
| name = Brass Monkey
⚫
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| caption =
| director = [[Thornton Freeland]]
| director = [[Thornton Freeland]]<br />'''dialogue director'''<br />Denny Freeman
| producer = [[N.A. Bronsten]]<br/>[[David Coplan]]
| producer = [[N.A. Bronsten]]<br />'''associate'''<br />[[John R. Sloan]]
| writer = [[Alec Coppel]]<br/>[[Denny Freeman (writer)|DennyFreeman]]<br/>[[Wiliam Freshman]]<br/>[[Vernon Sylvaine]]
| writer = [[Alec Coppel]]<br />'''additional dialogue'''<br />[[William Freshman]]<br />[[Vernon Sylvaine]]<br />Robert Buckland
| based_on = an original story by [[Alec Coppel]]<br />[[Thornton Freeland]]
| narrator =
| narrator =
| starring = [[Carroll Levis]]<br />[[Carole Landis]]
| starring = [[Carroll Levis]]<br />[[Carole Landis]]<br />[[Herbert Lom]]
| music = [[Buddy Bradley]]<br/>[[Sid Colin]]<br/>[[Dr. Bernard Grun]]<br/>[[Noel Langley]]
| music = Dr. [[Bernard Grun]]
| cinematography = [[Basil Emmott]]<br/>[[Bert Mason]]
| cinematography = [[Basil Emmott]]
| editing = [[David Hawkins]]
| editing = David Hawkins
| distributor =
| studio =
| released = 1948
| distributor = [[United Artists]]
| released = {{Film date|1949|||UK}}
| runtime = 100 min.
| runtime = 100 min.
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| country = United Kingdom
| language = [[English language|English]]
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
⚫
| image = Brass Monkey VideoCover.jpeg
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
}}
}}
'''''Brass Monkey''''' is a [[1948 in film|1948]] British crime drama film directed by Thornton Freeland, starring [[Carroll Levis]], formerly a radio variety show host, and American actress [[Carole Landis]].


'''''Brass Monkey''''' is a 1948 British comedy thriller with musical asides, directed by [[Thornton Freeland]]. It stars [[Carroll Levis]], a radio variety show host and talent scout (known as "Britain's favourite Canadian"){{citation needed|date=May 2020}} and American actress [[Carole Landis]] in her last film. Also known as '''''The Lucky Mascot''''', the film features an early appearance by comic actor [[Terry-Thomas]], playing himself.<ref name="tvguide1">{{cite web|url=http://movies.tvguide.com/the-lucky-mascot/review/104951 |title=The Lucky Mascot Review |publisher=Movies.tvguide.com |date= |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref>
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==External links==
* {{imdb title|0040186|Brass Monkey}}
* {{Amg movie|85880|Brass Monkey}}


Though made in 1948, ''Brass Monkey'' wasn't released in the US until 1951.<ref name="britmovie1">{{cite web|url=http://www.britmovie.co.uk/films/Brass-Monkey_1948/ |title=Brass Monkey 1948 &#124; Britmovie &#124; Home of British Films |publisher=Britmovie |date= |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6bc642d7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712031814/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/4ce2b6bc642d7 |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-12 |title=Lucky Mascot &#124; BFI &#124; BFI |publisher=Explore.bfi.org.uk |date= |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref>
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[[Category:1948 films]]
⚫
[[Category:British films]]
⚫
[[Category:English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:Black and white films]]
⚫
[[Category:Crime thriller films]]


==Plot==
Popular radio presenter [[Carroll Levis]], and Kay Sheldon find themselves entangled in a web of smuggling and murder. When a priceless "brass monkey" is stolen from a Japanese temple and smuggled into England, Levis encounters the eccentric Mr. Ryder-Harris, a Buddhist art connoisseur who's chasing the artefact, and will apparently stop at nothing to get it. The monkey is missing and suspicious murders are being committed in the hunt for its retrieval. With the help of the ''Discoveries'' radio talent, Levis attempts to avoid murderous henchman [[Herbert Lom]], and foil Mr. Ryder-Harris's plans. Amongst all the mayhem, an array of musical and comedy performers audition for and appear on ''The Levis Hour'', the hero's weekly radio programme.<ref name="tvguide1"/><ref name="britmovie1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Brass-Monkey-Lucky-Mascot-1947-England/dp/B00009XENM |title=Brass Monkey (The Lucky Mascot) (1947-England) [VHS&#93;: Terry-Thomas, Ernest Thesiger, Herbert Lom, Carole Landis, Carroll Levis: Movies & TV |website=Amazon |date= |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article67938681 |title=29 Aug 1950 – Radio Theatre Talkies Current Attractions REVIEW |newspaper=Geraldton Guardian |via=Trove |date=1950-08-29 |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref>


==Cast==
{{crime-film-stub}}
* [[Carroll Levis]] as himself
* [[Carole Landis]] as Kay Sheldon
* [[Herbert Lom]] as Peter Hobart
* [[Avril Angers]] as herself
* [[Ernest Thesiger]] as Ryder-Harris
* [[Edward Underdown]] as Max Taylor
* [[Henry Edwards (actor)|Henry Edwards]] as Inspector Miller
* Henry Worthington as Rodney
* [[Terry-Thomas]] as himself
* [[Leslie Hutchinson|Leslie 'Hutch' Hutchinson]] as Hutch
* [[Campbell Cotts]] as A.J. Gilroy
* [[Peter Williams (American actor)|Peter Williams]] as Detective Fellows

==Production==
Landis arrived in England to make the film in August 1947.<ref>{{Cite news|title=STUDIO TO REFILM SCENES IN PICTURE: Eagle Lion, in Agreement With Fox Will Retake Sequences in Completed Melodrama|author=THOMAS F. BRADY|date=Aug 20, 1947|work=New York Times|page=24}}</ref> Landis reportedly said that she encouraged the English actors to speak more slowly so that U.S. audiences could understand them.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168780300 |title=Sanders In Britain For Filming Of Maugham Book |newspaper=[[Truth (Sydney newspaper)|Truth]] |issue=3021 |location=New South Wales, Australia |date=14 December 1947 |accessdate=30 April 2016 |page=55 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

==Songs==
*"It's the Greatest Business in the world" by Gaby Rogers – staged by Buddy Bradley
*"Home Sweet Home" by [[Sid Colin]] and [[Steve Race]]
*"Somebody Blew My Bluebird's Egg" by Noel Langley and Pat Quin
*"I Know Myself Too Well" by Ross Parker
*"Tomorrow's Rainbow" by Colin Campbell

==Critical reception==
* ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' called the film a "ramshackle support feature", and concluded it was "a curio, but not really a collectible."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/london/film/the-brass-monkey |title=The Brass Monkey &#124; review, synopsis, book tickets, showtimes, movie release date &#124; Time Out London |publisher=Timeout.com |date= |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref>
*In a contemporary review, ''The Geraldton Guardian'' called ''The Brass Monkey'', a "well told story."<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
* [[Sky Movies]] wrote, "a rough (very rough) and tumble British comedy-thriller spun round the then popular shows featuring Carroll Levis.&nbsp;... Not much as a film&nbsp;... But of undoubted interest for its extraordinary cast."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://skymovies.sky.com/the-brass-monkey/review |title=The Brass Monkey – Sky Movies HD |publisher=Skymovies.sky.com |date=2003-05-07 |accessdate=2014-03-12}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

⚫
==External links==
* {{IMDb title}}

{{Thornton Freeland}}
{{Alec Coppel}}

⚫
[[Category:1948 films]]
[[Category:1948 comedy films]]
[[Category:1948 crime films]]
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[[Category:1940s British films]]
[[Category:1940s comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:1940s crime comedy films]]
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[[Category:1940s crime thriller films]]
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[[Category:1940s English-language films]]
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[[Category:British black-and-white films]]
[[Category:British comedy thriller films]]
[[Category:British crime comedy films]]
[[Category:British crime thriller films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Thornton Freeland]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Alec Coppel]]
[[Category:English-language crime comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language crime thriller films]]
[[Category:English-language comedy thriller films]]

Latest revision as of 18:28, 21 December 2024

Brass Monkey
Directed byThornton Freeland
dialogue director
Denny Freeman
Written byAlec Coppel
additional dialogue
William Freshman
Vernon Sylvaine
Robert Buckland
Based onan original story by Alec Coppel
Thornton Freeland
Produced byN.A. Bronsten
associate
John R. Sloan
StarringCarroll Levis
Carole Landis
Herbert Lom
CinematographyBasil Emmott
Edited byDavid Hawkins
Music byDr. Bernard Grun
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • 1949 (1949) (UK)
Running time
100 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Brass Monkey is a 1948 British comedy thriller with musical asides, directed by Thornton Freeland. It stars Carroll Levis, a radio variety show host and talent scout (known as "Britain's favourite Canadian")[citation needed] and American actress Carole Landis in her last film. Also known as The Lucky Mascot, the film features an early appearance by comic actor Terry-Thomas, playing himself.[1]

Though made in 1948, Brass Monkey wasn't released in the US until 1951.[2][3]

Plot

[edit]

Popular radio presenter Carroll Levis, and Kay Sheldon find themselves entangled in a web of smuggling and murder. When a priceless "brass monkey" is stolen from a Japanese temple and smuggled into England, Levis encounters the eccentric Mr. Ryder-Harris, a Buddhist art connoisseur who's chasing the artefact, and will apparently stop at nothing to get it. The monkey is missing and suspicious murders are being committed in the hunt for its retrieval. With the help of the Discoveries radio talent, Levis attempts to avoid murderous henchman Herbert Lom, and foil Mr. Ryder-Harris's plans. Amongst all the mayhem, an array of musical and comedy performers audition for and appear on The Levis Hour, the hero's weekly radio programme.[1][2][4][5]

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Landis arrived in England to make the film in August 1947.[6] Landis reportedly said that she encouraged the English actors to speak more slowly so that U.S. audiences could understand them.[7]

Songs

[edit]
  • "It's the Greatest Business in the world" by Gaby Rogers – staged by Buddy Bradley
  • "Home Sweet Home" by Sid Colin and Steve Race
  • "Somebody Blew My Bluebird's Egg" by Noel Langley and Pat Quin
  • "I Know Myself Too Well" by Ross Parker
  • "Tomorrow's Rainbow" by Colin Campbell

Critical reception

[edit]
  • Time Out called the film a "ramshackle support feature", and concluded it was "a curio, but not really a collectible."[8]
  • In a contemporary review, The Geraldton Guardian called The Brass Monkey, a "well told story."[5]
  • Sky Movies wrote, "a rough (very rough) and tumble British comedy-thriller spun round the then popular shows featuring Carroll Levis. ... Not much as a film ... But of undoubted interest for its extraordinary cast."[9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "The Lucky Mascot Review". Movies.tvguide.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Brass Monkey 1948 | Britmovie | Home of British Films". Britmovie. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Lucky Mascot | BFI | BFI". Explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  4. ^ "Brass Monkey (The Lucky Mascot) (1947-England) [VHS]: Terry-Thomas, Ernest Thesiger, Herbert Lom, Carole Landis, Carroll Levis: Movies & TV". Amazon. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  5. ^ a b "29 Aug 1950 – Radio Theatre Talkies Current Attractions REVIEW". Geraldton Guardian. 29 August 1950. Retrieved 12 March 2014 – via Trove.
  6. ^ THOMAS F. BRADY (20 August 1947). "STUDIO TO REFILM SCENES IN PICTURE: Eagle Lion, in Agreement With Fox Will Retake Sequences in Completed Melodrama". New York Times. p. 24.
  7. ^ "Sanders In Britain For Filming Of Maugham Book". Truth. No. 3021. New South Wales, Australia. 14 December 1947. p. 55. Retrieved 30 April 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "The Brass Monkey | review, synopsis, book tickets, showtimes, movie release date | Time Out London". Timeout.com. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  9. ^ "The Brass Monkey – Sky Movies HD". Skymovies.sky.com. 7 May 2003. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
[edit]
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