This Acting Business
| This Acting Business | |
|---|---|
_170826-090120.jpg) Hugh Williams and Wendy Barrie in the film | |
| Directed by | John Daumery |
| Produced by | Irving Asher |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Basil Emmott |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Warner Brothers |
Release date |
|
Running time | 54 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
This Acting Business is a 1933 British comedy film directed by John Daumery and starring Hugh Williams, Wendy Barrie and Donald Calthrop.[1] It was made at Teddington Studios as a quota quickie by the British subsidiary of Warner Brothers.[2]
Preservation status
The British Film Institute National Archive holds a collection of stills but no film or video materials.[1]
Plot
Matinee idol Hugh Kean marries prominent actress Joyce Stafford, and they star in a play that thrives on the publicity surrounding their marriage. Their parents, established Shakesperian actors, disapprove of the marriage and succeed in making them separate. The discovery that a baby is imminent brings them together again.[3]
Cast
- Hugh Williams as Hugh Kean
- Wendy Barrie as Joyce Stafford
- Donald Calthrop as Milton Stafford
- Violet Farebrother as Mary Kean
- Marie Wright as Mrs. Dooley
- Charles Paton as Ward
Reception
Kine Weekly wrote: "Plot is not exciting, but it is quite well put over and, with the stars pertermances, provides a light quota offer above the average. Wendy Barrie as Joyce and Hugh Williams as Hugh speak well and are good without being outstanding."[4]
The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Adequate direction secures fairly smooth flow of amusing comedy, spiced with piquant interludes of intermarital bickerings, involving wholesale destruction of gramophone records by newlyweds."[3]
Picture Show wrote: "A pleasant, light little film ... There is perhaps a little too much talk and not enough action, but it detracts but little from the film,."[5]
References
- 1 2 "This Acting Business". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
- ↑ Chibnall, Steve (2007). Quota Quickies: The Birth of the British 'B' Film. British Film Institute. p. 275. ISBN 978-1844571550.
- 1 2 "This Acting Business". The Daily Film Renter (2129): 6. 20 December 1933. ProQuest 3127084777.
- ↑ "This Acting Business". Kine Weekly (1392): 19. 21 December 1933. ProQuest 2338078249.
- ↑ "This Acting Business". Picture Show. 31 (785): 19. 19 May 1934. ProQuest 1880320423.