Charley s aunt jun 1, 1925 daly s 63rd street theatre revival charley s aunt oct 17, 1940 cort theatre revival charley s aunt dec 22, 1953 city center revival. Jul 28, 2007 sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. The 1941 version of charley s aunt would be notable if only because it s one of the rare films in which jack benny is playing a real character, rather than a mere extension of his welldeveloped and recognizable personality. Our fall farce, charleys aunta hilarious farce written by brandon thomas and directed by ed knights. They invite the ladies to meet charleys wealthy aunt from brazil. Things get even more silly as babbs is soon being hounded by suitors interested in the aunt s considerable fortune. When donna lucia dalvadorez fails to arrive to act as chaperone. The problem is solved by drafting their oxford undergrad pal into bloomers and wig. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charleys brazilian aunt donna lucia.
Kay francis gets to play the best character, the real charleys. Nov 10, 2012 charleys aunt 20 september 10 november 2012. 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. Charley s aunt 1941 victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their wealthy playboy friend, lord fancourt babberly jack benny, to. Stemmle and starring fritz rasp, paul kemp, and max gulstorff.
His radio show is filled with jokes about his film career. She chose to play the title role in twentieth centuryfoxs charleys aunt 1941. I suppose like most people, i first saw charleys aunt, brandon thomas centurieslong theatrical chestnut, back in high school. Their purpose is to have a chaperone for their amorous visits with amy and kitty, niece and ward of crusty stephen spettigue. The first starred sydney chaplin in 1925 and the second released in 1930 featured charlie. Charleys aunt the winnipesaukee playhousemeredith nh. Charleys 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. Character description, analysis and casting breakdown for charley wykeham from charleys aunt join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities.
When the real aunt turns up, classic comic confusion. Lewis, with james christy, chet carlin, marisha watassek. It is based on the british writer brandon thomass 1892 play charleys aunt. Charleys rich aunt, donna lucia, is visiting from brazil and the timing couldnt be better.
The film s sets were designed by art director franz schroedter. 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. Media in category charleys aunt the following 21 files are in this category, out of 21 total. Austrian program of 1934 german version of charleys aunt. Brandon thomass giddy farce demolished all box office records, clocking up 1,466 performances between 1892 and 1896. Like niagara falls, charleys aunt stands the test of time.
This was the third of many screen adaptations of charley s aunt, the beloved 19thcentury stage farce. By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charleys aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. The catholic university of america speech and drama department presents charley s aunt, by brandon thomas, directed by joseph lewis, settings and lighting by james d. Besitzer vom goldenen hirsch 19631024 film maskenball bei scotland yard. While best known for his tv work, including drop the dead donkey, ballykissangel and wild at heart, as well as the awardwinning dci banks which is based on the series of novels by peter robinson, tompkinson also appeared in 1996 hit film brassed off and his stage roles have included spamalot, charleys aunt and, mostly recently, a tour of art which brought him to theatre royal in march. Things get even more silly as babbs is soon being hounded by suitors interested in the aunts considerable fortune. His film career is not thought of highly, but some of that is due to jacks own attitude towards his films. The life of laura ingalls wilder tribute little house on the prairie tv show theme song. With eric sykes, jimmy edwards, barbara murray, osmund bullock. After a seventeenyear vacation, charleys aunt is returning to the utah shakespeare festival. They invite the ladies to meet charley s wealthy aunt from brazil. Once the recordholder for the longest running play worldwide, charleys aunt has been translated and adapted numerous times into operas, movies, tv films. The catholic university of america speech and drama department presents charleys aunt, by brandon thomas, directed by joseph lewis, settings and lighting by james d. I suppose like most people, i first saw charley s aunt, brandon thomas centurieslong theatrical chestnut, back in high school.
More unabashed hilarity with this hit from the late 19th century. Jack benny playing with enthusiasm and romping merrily and crazily along the route, takes fullest advantage of laugh opportunities. This first talkie version of the evergreen brandon thomas stage farce charleys aunt stars charlie ruggles, obviously having the time of his life in the leading role. If youre going to drag an aunt into the business, we may as well wait till they all come back from scotland. The dean is a keen egyptologist and desperate to secure funding for. An oxford undergraduate student and charleys friend, jack is in love with kitty verdun. With jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, anne baxter. Luckily, charley s aunt from brazil where the nuts come from is coming for a visit. But her role was a supporting one, as much of the story revolves around a young man masquerading around as. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free.
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. Stemmle it starred fritz rasp, paul kemp and max gulstorff. Brandon thomas s giddy farce demolished all box office records, clocking up 1,466 performances between 1892 and 1896. Like niagara falls, charley s aunt stands the test of time. The millionaire aunt sends the boys into cataclysmic confusion when she cancels her trip. This version of the popular comedy based on brandon thomas s play features comedian jack benny as the lead.
By brandon thomas directed by joseph discher performances begin october 24 im charley s aunt from brazil, where the nuts come from. 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. Sir francourt babbs babberly gets drafted by his old school chums charley and jack to pose as charleys aunt, a rich widow, to chaperon a meeting between the boys and their sweethearts, amy and kitty. With fritz rasp, paul kemp, max gulstorff, albert lieven. Jack benny brings his own distinctive touch to brandon thomas venerable and oftfilmed stage farce charleys aunt. An oxford undergraduate student, charley is in love with amy spettigue. Matthew horne and jane asher in charleys aunt at menier chocolate factory. Charley s aunt on dvd 024543440642 from 20th century fox. This charming frump is introduced as charley s aunt.
In movie the mysteries of a hairdressers shop 19231231 ultimul film. In its day, charley s aunt was the original west end blockbuster. Sight unseen, i eagerly awaited the release of charleys aunt on disc. Robert bischoff, william perlberg, brandon thomas, george seaton. Kay francis gets to play the best character, the real charleys aunt. The joke is pushed much further in the film, but it still helps sustain ian talbots pleasurable revival of this old. Charleys aunt babbs rehearsal diary 22086 with the first rehearsal readthrough of act i complete, character backgrounds written, and a single blocking rehearsal of the opening of act i with jack and charley done the evening before, i arrive for my first blocking rehearsal. Charleys aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Oct 02, 2012 matthew horne and jane asher in charleys aunt at menier chocolate factory. Jack chesneys father, colonel chesney is visiting his son at oxford. Al christie this first talkie version of the evergreen. Charleys aunt the shakespeare theatre of new jersey. But without a chaperone, they cant meet their girls, amy and kitty.
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. Charley s aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. Jack and charley, undergraduates at oxford, have each fallen in love. While jack as a british college student only kinda works, jack is still a stitch. Askey stars as an oxford student forced to pose as his aunt in order to keep from being expelled from school. This version of the popular comedy based on brandon thomass play features comedian jack benny as the lead. Jul, 2015 mason aksamit charley s aunt part 1 duration. 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. Complete charley s aunt with charles grodin, vincent gardenia, anne francis, joyce bullifant, barrie ingham, efram zimbalist, jr. Now haywards douglas morrisson theatre gets into the act with its commissioned world premiere of charleys aunt 66, a new version of brandon thomas stillpopular 1892 farce.
It is based on the british writer brandon thomass 1892 play charley s aunt. Staring arleen whelan, morton lowry, laird cregar and edmund gwenn. This charming frump is introduced as charleys aunt. A guide to visiting charleys aunt utah shakespeare festival. In its day, charleys aunt was the original west end blockbuster. The 1941 version of charleys aunt would be notable if only because its one of the rare films in which jack benny is playing a real character, rather than a mere extension of his welldeveloped and recognizable personality. Charleys tante is a 1934 german comedy film directed by robert a.
Utilizing a gloriously unconvincing broada english accent, benny is cast as lord fancourt babberly, a somewhat overaged undergraduate at oxford university. Charley s bighearted aunt is a 1940 british comedy film directed by walter forde starring arthur askey and richard murdoch as oxford scholars the film is one of many to be made based on the victorian farce charley s aunt. In 1934 a german version charleys aunt was released. With charles grodin, vincent gardenia, anne francis, joyce bulifant. Charley s aunt is a farce in three acts written by brandon thomas. Charleys aunt on dvd 024543440642 from 20th century fox. Charleys bighearted aunt film british comedy guide. Charley wyckham and jack chesney pressure fellow student fancourt babberly to pose as charley s brazilian aunt donna lucia. 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. Charleys aunt is a 1941 american historical comedy film directed by archie mayo. Charleys aunt jun 1, 1925 dalys 63rd street theatre revival charleys aunt oct 17, 1940 cort theatre revival charleys aunt dec 22, 1953 city center revival. It was the third filmed version of the stage farce of the same name by brandon thomas. This was the third of many screen adaptations of charleys aunt, the beloved 19thcentury stage farce. Arthur askey took the leading role in a 1940 british film charleys bighearted aunt that developed themes from the original play.
The story centres on lord fancourt babberley, an undergraduate whose friends jack and charley persuade him to impersonate the latters aunt. Babbs roommates jack chesney james ellison and charley wyckeham richard haydn, in his film debut are desirous of. Charleys bighearted aunt is a 1940 british comedy film directed by walter forde. Fancourt must pose as the elderly aunt of his roommate charley wyckeham so that charley and his friend jack chesney will. Overview of charleys aunt, 1941, directed by archie mayo, with jack benny, kay francis, james ellison, at turner classic movies. 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 1941 victorianera oxford students charley wykeham richard haydn and jack chesney james ellison recruit their wealthy playboy friend, lord fancourt babberly jack benny, to. After two soso comedies, play girl and the man who lost himself, kays freelance career needed a new boost. His enthusiasm makes the film more than the sum of its parts. This comedy will grace our stage for the first time in our 56year history. Arthur askeys professional nickname was bighearted arthur, which was added to the title to distinguish it from jack bennys version, for its limited american release. In 1890, two students at oxford force their rascally friend and fellow student to pose as an aunt from brazilwhere the nuts come from. Complete charleys aunt with charles grodin, vincent gardenia, anne francis, joyce bullifant, barrie ingham, efram zimbalist, jr. Charleys aunt article about charleys aunt by the free.
Benny, predating jack lemmons work in some like it hot, is a marvel as the english earl posing as an oxford classmates aunt. 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. Charleys aunt jun 1, 1925 dalys 63rd street theatre revival charleys aunt dec 22, 1953 city center revival charleys aunt jul 4, 1970 brooks atkinson theatre revival. Watch playhouse 90 season 1, episode 26 charleys aunt. 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. 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. Media in category charley s aunt the following 21 files are in this category, out of 21 total. He first falls for charleys aunts money, but then makes another discovery. Silent film versions of the play were released in 1915 and 1925, the latter featuring sydney. Charleys bighearted aunt 1940 public domain movies. Charlies aunt 1982 part 1 the intro by average joe. It remained one of bennys personal favourites among his own films. Ah well, we wont be too hard on that particular aunt, given she. The film isnt a comic masterwork but its a fun way to spend an hour and a half.