Penny Paradise (1938) User Reviews (8)

Betty and Better

[Igenlode Wordsmith · 7/10 · 4 August 2006]

I admit I only saw this picture as second choice to "Of Human Bondage", which was booked out by the time I got to the cinema; but it turned out to be a thoroughly good-humoured and enjoyable little comedy that drew laughter from across the audience. Edmund Gwenn and Jimmy O'Dea shine as a double-act of the captain of a Liverpool tugboat with a wimpish whistle and his happy-go-lucky Irish first mate, and a selection of formidable womenfolk give them something to think about at home, from the captain's daughter (Betty Driver), to the widow he's courting and the sanctimonious Aunt Agnes. The humour is by and large undemanding without ever becoming crude, with the exception of a couple of pure slapstick moments; and there are many jokes made by sight gags alone without labouring the point, as when the embarrassed Captain Higgins encounters first the glare of a hostile child and then, turning away in confusion, the glassy stare of a large dead fish. It rarely puts a foot wrong or over-emphasises a joke for fear the audience might miss the point -- indeed, if anything it errs the other way, for the heavy local accents and tinny recording meant that some of the lines (and laughs) only came through belatedly when the wording became evident from the reply.

I'm not clear whether this was meant to be a musical or not; it features a number of fairly gratuitous musical numbers which I felt on balance to be a misjudgement, especially those sung (or lip-synched) by Betty Driver. A contemporary reviewer described the unfortunate Miss Driver as "a spirited young woman with a voice translated by either recording or reproduction into the accents of an electric saw", and while unkind, the description is a little too accurate for comfort. Her performance as an actress is competent without being outstanding, although again her voice can be difficult to follow.

Jimmy O'Dea as Pat, the little Irishman, also performs a song on demand, which comes across rather better due to the sentiment being so utterly at odds with the character's demeanour: it's played for laughs, whereas Betty Driver's ballads are apparently intended to be taken at face value. His was definitely the most memorable performance among the cast, although Edmund Gwenn in the lead role also gives good value.

"Penny Paradise" is not a big-budget production (although the period scenes of location work on the Mersey are nowadays fascinating), but it enjoys a good script and admirable actors, which generally counts for more, and the pacing is generally excellent. And everyone gets exactly what they deserve in the last reel, which is always a satisfying experience!

Working up to KIPPS

[boblipton · 7/10 · 25 June 2006]

The comparison was inevitable when I saw this movie the day after I saw Carol Reed's version of KIPPS. However, while KIPPS is a serious movie leavened with humor, this is a comedy leavened with a lot of tension, and eased by the occasional song: Jimmy O'Dea sings a typical comedy piece about 'The Pride of the Coombe' and Betty Driver sings a swingy number This working class comedy is clearly a quota quickie, but also, clearly, Reed has learned his craft and the result, while no classic, is an engaging bit of fluff. The performances are sterling and the scene between Edmund Gwenn and James Harcourt is beautifully played. The camera-work is, likewise, unimpeachable: classic camera movement to maintain composition.

In short, by the time he directed this movie, Reed had the ability to direct anything that came his way. The next decade would show that.

Cheer up generic northerners, you'd hate being well off.

[lkojmt · 5/10 · 24 July 2017]

Carol 'The Third Man' Reed directed this, and there are very few hints here at his future greatness. Set in a time before good- looking people had been invented, and on the Liverpool docks where, bizarrely, all the characters but one have Yorkshire accents (the only other accent being a sort of cod Irish) it sets out to show the working class as sort of heroic and noble.

Does it succeed? Well sort of. The story is so very simple - a poor but happy man almost becomes rich and unhappy. It's the sort of chin-up, mustn't grumble, know-your-place-common-folk theme we see in so many British films, of any era. And it left me thinking: did these films merely reflect that British identity, or were they attempting to invent it? If the producers didn't know or care that Liverpool has it's own accent, distinct identity and sense of humour, what was the point of setting it there specifically? Also, it teeters on a edge of Kitchen sink realism at times (check out the little flat behind the chip shop, sad widow dreaming her dreams) but never dares question anything, big or small, not even light-heartedly.

interesting British classic film

[cynthiahost · 20 November 2011]

I always complained that turner classic movies explores more British classics than,let's say German. I was wrong. They haven't fully explore Margeret Rutherfords films.They have yet to show any George Formsby. They have only showed a few Arthur Askey films other than the more uppity over exposed British classic, that's it.Now I recently discovered another never before seen British actress. Betty Diver.Although she's not a beauty queen she a very talented actress and a a good singer.This movie stars Edmund Gwen who looked as old in 1938 as he did in the films of twentieth century fox, later. He portrays a captain of a barge ship, owned by the company he works for with his assistant Pat , played by Jimmy o Dea. He has been struggling with his daughter, Betty played by Betty Diver, who works as a waitress at a pub called the casino. Edmund as captain Joe , is frustrated cause he want to work at a better boat, but his boss won't let him. He also visits the widow Clegg, played by Mair O Niell , who run a fish shop cause their good friend and he has a romantic interest in her. Pat is interested in Joes daughter, Betty.Every supper time Her aunt Agness , played by Ethel Coleridge, a tea totaler temperance, and her Uncle Lancelot,portrayed by Sid Crossley show up.It's monotonous in Liverpool for her. She even tells pat that she loves to leave the place.Joe gets involved in a penny lottery focusing on footballs games , on the radio, rugby that is. His sister Agnes objects to it and the widow Clegg fears his attitude would become uppity. But as he's calculating the game it turns out he has won. 20 thousands pounds, So he gets pat to send the letter to get his check.Now he gets real excited goes to his boss and tells him as soon as he come back from around the world that he's going to buy that boat. The boss worries about him over competing against him and because of that 20 thousand pounds suggest that that he partners with him on the new boat.Joe Agrees. Now he putting on an expensive party at the casino and is inviting every one. Finally somebody tells Pat about the party and then realizes that he has forgotten to send the letter and does not have the heart to tell him. The widow Clegg hates him for having that money.So he asks Pat , who hasn't told him yet to pretend that he did not win so the widow Clegg will like him again. But pat is telling the truth he did not send the letter and Betty and the Clegg believes it.The assistant manager for the steam boat company is all of a sudden interested in marrying Betty cause of the 20 thousand pounds.This saddens Pat cause he wanted to marry her.Now the Aunt wants to sue Joe claiming that she and Lancelot had a helping hand in the contest. It turns out that the owner of the casino wants his billed paid for the party and he goes to the police. Now he is about to go on the new boat and a bobby come to him to send him to the bobby station. Well the aunt and uncle are their to have him charged with not including them in the money and the owner of the pub wanting his money too.He tells him that he will get it Tuesday. But finally Pat spells it out .Now every one is disappointed. Now Joe has to go out and tell his boss. But the assistant wants to call the steam ship company up and let them know first. Betty begs him not to do that.But he does and it turns out he was just interested in her money. She dumps him. Well pat stops him by claiming that the hit him .Well all the neighbors are their waiting on him to take the the boat.When he finally arrives and tells the truth. The boss then is glad he did not win and still excepts him as the captain of the new ship. This was a modestly budget musical and was good. Betty Diver only did a few films.11/20/11

Easy Money

[richardchatten · 6/10 · 18 November 2021]

A studio-bound but quietly effective early film from the up-and-coming Carol Reed praised by the not easily impressed Rachel Low as "Surprisingly realistic in it's atmosphere and with the usual good acting". An eighteen year-old Betty Driver is appealing as Edmund Gwenn's daughter and Ethel Coleridge memorably dour as his ghastly Aunt Agnes.

Cute lottery comedy

[HotToastyRag · 6/10 · 29 November 2023]

Fans of Waking Ned Devine and The Jackpot might want to look up the very obscure, old British flick Penny Paradise. Edmund Gwenn, in a rare pre-Santa Claus role that showed no inkling of the jolly old elf, stars as a poor, low class fellow who wins the lottery. He spends most of his time in the bar with his pals, taking care of his daughter Betty Driver, and shyly wooing Marie O'Neill. When he gets his sudden windfall, everything changes - but is it all for the best?

Betty gets a number of suitors, but who are interested in her instead of her money? Everyone wants to get their hooks into Teddy's money, and he finds himself throwing parties and racking up bills before he can keep up with them. Marie is disgusted by his fortune, insisting that he's changed since he's become rich. Can poor Teddy and rich Teddy become one and the same? Check out this cute comedy to find out, and to hear Santa talking in a fun Liverpool accent.

northern appeal

[malcolmgsw · 4/10 · 12 August 2006]

I saw this film at the NFT where it was showing as part of the Carol Reed centenary season.The film is set in Liverpool but Edmund Gwenn and Betty Driver speak with thick Lancashire accents more appropriate to Manchester than Liverpool.I found it difficult to understand what they were saying at times.This film emanates from a period when films would actually be made for the Northern part of the UK.The best example being Mancunian Films.It is quite clear from both the story and the budget that this film was not meant for showing in the South of the country.If it did get a showing it was probably in the morning when the cinema was being cleaned,in order to comply with the quota requirements of the Cinematograph Acts.This like many other Ealing films had musical numbers dotted at regular intervals in the story.It would appear from the programme notes that accompanied the screening that most reviewers of the day thought that Betty Driver was doing a Gracie Fields impersonation.Maybe because Gracie had come to the end of her contract with Ealing and Basil Dean was looking for a replacement.I actually found the numbers quite a bright spark in what was rather a simple minded farce.Jimmy O'Dea is in the middle of his brief flirtation with UK films.his acting leaves a lot to be desired.Even the marvellous Edmund Gwenn can do little to breath life into this.

Most enjoyable

[Lucy-Lastic · 8/10 · 28 August 2016]

Cynthiahost (a reviewer from the States) can be forgiven for saying at the end of her review "Betty Diver only did a few films.", which is true but Betty DRIVER went on to become one of the major stalwarts of the long running (still going!)soap Coronation Street where she played Betty Turpin.

I've just watched this film from my set of The Ealing Studios Rarities Collection DVDs and have to admit I didn't recognise her at all – shame on me! Very good film though, which I thoroughly enjoyed albeit I don't think there was one Scouse accent in it, which was surprising as it was set in Liverpool and most of the actors had Mancunian accents.