"Run for Your Money" is a 1949 comedy that's just about that - two Welsh brothers, with some other interested parties, running all around London in a single day to collect a cash prize. This isn't a comedy of great witty lines and dialog that was typical of Hollywood in its golden age. Rather, it's of the British ilk of the same period with funny situations, and warm-hearted humor.
The film has a fine cast of actors of its day from around the United Kingdom. Donald Houston and Meredith Edwards are the brothers, Dai (David) and Twm (Tom). They work in the coal mines and hail from the fictional town of Hafoduwchbenceubwllymarchogcoch, Wales. Listening to the town pronounced in the opening, one comes up with a phonetic spelling for pronunciation close to this - Hah¬¬o Duke Ben Cray Buff Mare Hog Co.
The brothers have won a £200 prize from the Echo newspaper and are sent on their way to collect by the mine boss, company office and fellow miners. Clive Morton plays the paper editor who assigns his garden columnist, Whimple, to the story. Alec Guinness plays Whimple. He's to meet their train and escort the boys around London, show them a good time, and then deliver them at the paper office to accept their cash prize.
Several other people have fine parts. One is another Welshman, Hugh Griffith who plays Huw. He's a one-time celebrated singer from Wales who is now panhandling in London for drink money. And South African actress Moira Lister plays Jo. She's an attractive girl the boys meet in a lunchroom. She's also a local scam artist.
The hilarity begins when the boys arrive in London and Whimple can't find them at the train station. They soon get split up after meeting Jo, and Tom then runs into Huw. The rest of the film is frenzy as these disparate players run around looking for one another, with David showing up to collect the cash and Tom being thrown out of the office after he and Huw have had one too many pints.
The film has many chuckles with the scurrying about, and encounters they all have. The ending is just right for a harried day of country lads in the big city. The funnies line in the film is Guinness's Whimple. He says to his editor, "How much I prefer vegetables to human beings."
This is an early look at Donald Houston (1923-1991). He was just 25 years old here and in only his fourth film. It was one of just a few comedies that he would make. After this he would make mostly mysteries and dramas. He made a few war films, and although playing a leading man for a time, he was mostly cast in second tier films. His later career saw him in some fine supporting roles of first tier films. Both Houston and Edwards were Welsh, and Houston actually worked for a time in the coal mines as a young man. He entered an acting contest held in his local town and began a career in acting.
This was only the fifth film for Alec Guinness (1914-2000). While he had been on stage for several years, Guinness was slow to come around to the silver screen. But he made some fantastic British comedies over the years. He was a great actor who could play any roles. He received many major award nominations and won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and three BAFTA awards. He still preferred the stage over film, and won a Tony on Broadway in 1964.
Most young people will know Guinness only for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars films. Film buffs who haven't seen him otherwise, and those interested in the theater and acting, owe it to themselves to watch at least a few Guinness films. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) is one of the best war movies ever made. For comedic genius and versatility, Guinness's eight roles in "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) can't be topped. Among other great dramatic films in which he starred are "The Prisoner" of 1955 and "Damn the Defiant!" of 1962. He also starred in two blockbuster British TV mini-series.
The film has a fine cast of actors of its day from around the United Kingdom. Donald Houston and Meredith Edwards are the brothers, Dai (David) and Twm (Tom). They work in the coal mines and hail from the fictional town of Hafoduwchbenceubwllymarchogcoch, Wales. Listening to the town pronounced in the opening, one comes up with a phonetic spelling for pronunciation close to this - Hah¬¬o Duke Ben Cray Buff Mare Hog Co.
The brothers have won a £200 prize from the Echo newspaper and are sent on their way to collect by the mine boss, company office and fellow miners. Clive Morton plays the paper editor who assigns his garden columnist, Whimple, to the story. Alec Guinness plays Whimple. He's to meet their train and escort the boys around London, show them a good time, and then deliver them at the paper office to accept their cash prize.
Several other people have fine parts. One is another Welshman, Hugh Griffith who plays Huw. He's a one-time celebrated singer from Wales who is now panhandling in London for drink money. And South African actress Moira Lister plays Jo. She's an attractive girl the boys meet in a lunchroom. She's also a local scam artist.
The hilarity begins when the boys arrive in London and Whimple can't find them at the train station. They soon get split up after meeting Jo, and Tom then runs into Huw. The rest of the film is frenzy as these disparate players run around looking for one another, with David showing up to collect the cash and Tom being thrown out of the office after he and Huw have had one too many pints.
The film has many chuckles with the scurrying about, and encounters they all have. The ending is just right for a harried day of country lads in the big city. The funnies line in the film is Guinness's Whimple. He says to his editor, "How much I prefer vegetables to human beings."
This is an early look at Donald Houston (1923-1991). He was just 25 years old here and in only his fourth film. It was one of just a few comedies that he would make. After this he would make mostly mysteries and dramas. He made a few war films, and although playing a leading man for a time, he was mostly cast in second tier films. His later career saw him in some fine supporting roles of first tier films. Both Houston and Edwards were Welsh, and Houston actually worked for a time in the coal mines as a young man. He entered an acting contest held in his local town and began a career in acting.
This was only the fifth film for Alec Guinness (1914-2000). While he had been on stage for several years, Guinness was slow to come around to the silver screen. But he made some fantastic British comedies over the years. He was a great actor who could play any roles. He received many major award nominations and won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and three BAFTA awards. He still preferred the stage over film, and won a Tony on Broadway in 1964.
Most young people will know Guinness only for his role as Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars films. Film buffs who haven't seen him otherwise, and those interested in the theater and acting, owe it to themselves to watch at least a few Guinness films. "The Bridge on the River Kwai" (1957) is one of the best war movies ever made. For comedic genius and versatility, Guinness's eight roles in "Kind Hearts and Coronets" (1949) can't be topped. Among other great dramatic films in which he starred are "The Prisoner" of 1955 and "Damn the Defiant!" of 1962. He also starred in two blockbuster British TV mini-series.