Follow a Star
| Follow a Star | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Robert Asher |
| Written by |
|
| Produced by | Hugh Stewart |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jack Asher |
| Edited by | Roger Cherrill |
| Music by | Philip Green |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 102 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Follow a Star is a 1959 British black and white comedy musical film directed by Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom.[1][2][3]
Plot
Norman Truscott works as a dry cleaner, but dreams of being a stage performer. To this end, he takes elocution and singing lessons with Miss Dobson, so far with little success. He is also in love with Judy, Miss Dobson's colleague, who teaches piano.
Norman goes to the theatre to see singing star Vernon Carew and causes chaos when he tries to join in the performance. But Carew realises that Norman's untrained voice is better that his own voice, which is fading rapidly, as is his popularity. On the pretext of offering Norman singing lessons, he secretly records Norman singing in the bath, and passes the recordings off as his own - miming to the recording on television. They are a success and Carew is a star again.
Miss Dobson realises what's happened and smuggles herself and Norman backstage during Carew's performance. She sees the record being played with Carew miming to it. She exposes him as a fake, again causing chaos onstage and backstage. Norman is persuaded to sing on stage and is acclaimed by the audience. But whilst they applaud him, he slips quietly away with Judy.
Cast
- Norman Wisdom as Norman Truscott
- June Laverick as Judy
- Jerry Desmonde as Vernon Carew
- Hattie Jacques as Dymphna Dobson
- Richard Wattis as Dr. Chatterway
- Eddie Leslie as Harold Franklin
- John Le Mesurier as Birkett
- Sydney Tafler as Pendlebury
- Fenella Fielding as Lady Finchington
- Charles Heslop as The General
- Joe Melia as Stage Manager
- Ron Moody as Violinist
- Dick Emery as Party Drunk
- Charles Gray as Party Guest
- Dilys Laye as Girl in Park
- Peggy Anne Clifford as Offended Lady at Party (uncredited)
Production
Norman Wisdom had a falling out with his regular director John Paddy Carstairs so was replaced on this by Bob Asher.[4]
Reception
The film was popular at the British box office.[5]
References
- ^ "Follow a Star (1959)". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 April 2018.
- ^ "Follow a Star (1959) - Robert Asher | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
- ^ "BFI Screenonline: Follow a Star (1959)". www.screenonline.org.uk.
- ^ "Hugh Stewart". British Entertainment History Project. 22 November 1989.
- ^ Billings, Josh (15 December 1960). "It's Britain 1, 2, 3 again in the 1960 box office stakes". Kine Weekly. pp. 8–9.
External links
- Follow a Star at IMDb
- Follow a Star at BFI Screenonline
- "Follow a Star. 1959 British comedy film". British Comedy Guide (comedy.co.uk). Retrieved 20 February 2021.
 | This article related to a British comedy film of the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
- 1959 films
- 1961 films
- 1959 comedy films
- British black-and-white films
- British comedy films
- Films directed by Robert Asher
- Films shot at Pinewood Studios
- 1959 directorial debut films
- 1960s English-language films
- 1950s English-language films
- 1950s British films
- 1960s British films
- Films scored by Philip Green
- 1950s British comedy film stubs