While Rex Harrison and Vivien Leigh aren't exactly the best couple to ever hit celluloid, and some of the less funny scenes go on and on while the funny scenes seem to stop before they've even begun, Storm In A Teacup is a pretty good place to begin if you've never seen a film with either...before they went Hollywood (before she was Scarlett O'Hara and he was Henry Higgins).
It's a political satire- Viv's character's father (Cecil Parker in a kilt) is the mayor of a small town and intends to run for governor. However, there's a young journalist (Rex Harrison) who has written an unflattering article about him for the local paper. Paker has decided to take away a woman's (Sara Allgood) dog due to her not paying her dog-owners license. Rex sets out to bring back her dog, bring the town justice, and write news articles, all while romancing Vivien Leigh. Sure, there's a rich woman (Urusla Jeans) who despises him and thinks he's no good, but ah, well, they all end up okay in the end.
Some parts of the film are spoofs of American culture, but there are a couple that were clearly influenced by American films. There are some screwballish elements to the plot, and the house that Viv and her father live in looks like it's right off the M-G-M lot.
Rex Harrison is pretty good in his role, it was a shock to see him so young, even if he just looked like his older self with more wrinkles. Vivien Leigh clearly hadn't developed her acting ability yet, which is unfortunate, and get a load of how many closeups they give her! Seriously. She says something, then there's a close-up of her looking pensive.
If you played a drinking game where you took a shot every time she had a close-up, you'd be tanked halfway through watching. There's a disappointingly small amount of funny scenes (the best ones would be either the one where Rex and Viv are in the fun house or the one where the dogs storm the house), but the film as a whole is enjoyable. Sara Allgood is good in her role as the woman who's having her dog taken away, and Cecil Parker is droll as Viv's father. Ursula Jeans is the main weak spot in the casting, but she's not on screen much, so it's not a problem.
It's not a storm in a teacup- the title is misleading- but it's a good little film, and could almost be considered a hidden gem. Seek it out if you haven't already.
It's a political satire- Viv's character's father (Cecil Parker in a kilt) is the mayor of a small town and intends to run for governor. However, there's a young journalist (Rex Harrison) who has written an unflattering article about him for the local paper. Paker has decided to take away a woman's (Sara Allgood) dog due to her not paying her dog-owners license. Rex sets out to bring back her dog, bring the town justice, and write news articles, all while romancing Vivien Leigh. Sure, there's a rich woman (Urusla Jeans) who despises him and thinks he's no good, but ah, well, they all end up okay in the end.
Some parts of the film are spoofs of American culture, but there are a couple that were clearly influenced by American films. There are some screwballish elements to the plot, and the house that Viv and her father live in looks like it's right off the M-G-M lot.
Rex Harrison is pretty good in his role, it was a shock to see him so young, even if he just looked like his older self with more wrinkles. Vivien Leigh clearly hadn't developed her acting ability yet, which is unfortunate, and get a load of how many closeups they give her! Seriously. She says something, then there's a close-up of her looking pensive.
If you played a drinking game where you took a shot every time she had a close-up, you'd be tanked halfway through watching. There's a disappointingly small amount of funny scenes (the best ones would be either the one where Rex and Viv are in the fun house or the one where the dogs storm the house), but the film as a whole is enjoyable. Sara Allgood is good in her role as the woman who's having her dog taken away, and Cecil Parker is droll as Viv's father. Ursula Jeans is the main weak spot in the casting, but she's not on screen much, so it's not a problem.
It's not a storm in a teacup- the title is misleading- but it's a good little film, and could almost be considered a hidden gem. Seek it out if you haven't already.