Alive and Kicking (1959 film)

Alive and Kicking is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Sybil Thorndike, Kathleen Harrison, Estelle Winwood and Stanley Holloway[1] with Richard Harris making his film debut. Its plot follows three women who grow dissatisfied with their lives in a retirement home and escape in order to search for fresh enjoyment and adventure. They eventually end up running a successful cottage industry sweater business on a remote island offshore of Ireland, (although the film was shot in Scotland).[2]

Alive and Kicking
Directed byCyril Frankel
Produced byVictor Skutezky
Written byDenis Cannan
William Dinnie
William Murum
StarringSybil Thorndike
Kathleen Harrison
Estelle Winwood
Stanley Holloway
Music byPhilip Green
CinematographyGilbert Taylor
Edited byBernard Gribble
Production
company
Diador
Distributed byWarner-Pathé Distributors (UK)
Seven Arts (US)
Release date
  • 1959 (1959) (UK)
  • 1964 (1964) (US)
Running time
94 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

In 1964, the film was released in the US, with the film trailer establishing a tie-in to Stanley Holloway's success in My Fair Lady.

Cast

Soundtrack
  • Alive and Kicking

Music by Philip Green
Lyrics by Michael Carr
Liscannon Bay
Music by Philip Green
Lyrics by Michael Carr

(uncredited)
Music by Juventino Rosas
Arranged by Philip Green

(1877) (uncredited)
Music by Euphemia Allen (using the pseudonym, Arthur De Lulli)

  • One I Truly Love

Music by Philip Green
Lyrics by Michael Carr

" (uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by Sybil Thorndike, Estelle Winwood and Kathleen Harrison in the speedboat

(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung by the children

Critical reception

Allmovie called it a "charming comedy";[3] while TV Guide rated the film 3/5 stars, writing "this delightfully zany British comedy gets added spark from the three main actresses and the ever-precocious Holloway";[4] and the Radio Times also gave the film 3/5 stars, calling the three actresses "a joy to behold", and concluding "director Cyril Frankel's engaging piece of Irish whimsy is slight but diverting."[5]

References
  1. "Alive and Kicking (1959)". BFI.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 3 November 2017.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Alive and Kicking (1958) - Cyril Frankel | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  4. "Alive And Kicking | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
  5. "Alive and Kicking – review | cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online". Radio Times.


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