Storm in a Teacup

1937

Comedy, Romance, Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison, Press, Dog, Journalism, Newspaper, Reporter, Politician

You can find more information regarding this film on its IMDb page.

Storm in a Teacup is a 1937 Cinema of the United Kingdom romantic comedy film starring Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison in his first starring role,<></>< name=Schwartz></> Cecil Parker and Sara Allgood. It is based on the German play Sturm im Wasserglas by Bruno Frank, as well as the English-language adaptations: London's Storm in a Teacup and Broadway's Storm Over Patsy, both written by James Bridie.< name=Gazette></> A reporter writes an article that embarrasses a politician. Meanwhile, the newspaperman is also attracted to his target's daughter.

Plot summary

Cast

Vivien Leigh as Victoria Gow
Rex Harrison as Frank Burdon
Cecil Parker as Provost (civil) William Gow
Sara Allgood as Honoria Hegarty
Ursula Jeans as Lisbet Skirving
Gus McNaughton as Horace Skirving
Edgar K. Bruce as McKellar (as Edgar Bruce)
Robert Hale as Lord Skerryvore
Quentin McPhearson as Baillie Callender (as Quinton Macpherson)
Arthur Wontner as Procurator Fiscal
Eliot Makeham as Sheriff
George Pughe as Menzies
Arthur Seaton as Police Sergeant
Cecil Mannering as Police Constable
Ivor Barnard as Watkins

Reception

At the time of the film's initial release, reviews were favourable. In The New York Times, Frank S. Nugent called it "an engaging miniature" and "a splendid comic brew".< name=NYT></> The critic for The Gazette (Montreal) wrote, "the excellent story is done fullest justice by the directors, Victor Saville and Dalrymple, and by the large and often-brilliant cast."< name=Gazette/> The critic for Boys' Life called it "a riot of fun for the audience."< name="Boys' Life"></>
The number of favourable reviews grew over time. Leonard Maltin rated this movie three out of four stars and called it "witty social comedy."< name=Maltin></> The book Guide to British Cinema considered this film as one of Victor Saville's "well-crafted, genre films" and "the breezy Rex Harrison–Vivien Leigh social comedy."< name=Mayer></> The book British Film Directors: A Critical Guide called it "a whimsical comedy with anti-fascist undercurrents."< name=Shail></> The book A Chorus of Raspberries: British Film Comedy 1929–1939 considered this film "one of the best British comedies of the decade."< name=Sutton></>
However, some reviews were either mixed or not positive. Dennis Schwartz of Ozus' World Movie Reviews, while he liked the performances of both Leigh and Harrison, considered the story "so incredibly naive that it doesn't travel well into modern times."

=Bibliography=

Anne Edwards. Vivien Leigh: A Biography. New York City: Simon & Schuster, 1977. Print. ISBN 0-671-22496-4.

McFarlane, Brian, ed.; Anthony Slide, asst. ed. The Encyclopedia of British Film: Second Edition – Fully Updated and Revised. London: Methuen Publishing, 2005. Print. ISBN 978-0-413-77526-9.
Moore, Rachel. "Love Machines." Film Studies 4 (2004): 2–3. Web. 4 Jan 2012. <http://www.manchesteruniversitypress.co.uk/uploads/docs/040001.pdf>
Slide, Anthony. Fifty Classic British Films, 1932–1982: A Pictorial Record. New York City: Dover Publications, 1985. Print. ISBN 0-486-24860-7.
Library of Congress. Copyright Office. "Dramatic Compositions." Catalog of Copyright Entries: Part 1, Group 3: Dramatic Composition and Motion Pictures: 1938 New Series: Volume 11, No. 2]. Washington: United States Government Printing Office, 1998. 19299-300. Web. 6 Jan 2012 <http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/1998/63fr19287.html>. <http://www.copyright.gov/fedreg/1998/63fr19287.pdf>.