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IMDbPro

Folly to Be Wise

  • 19521952
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
334
YOUR RATING
Janet Brown and Alastair Sim in Folly to Be Wise (1952)
  • Comedy
Newly arrived Army chaplin Captain Paris (Alastair Sim) attempts to book various acts for the entertainment of a troop of soldiers.Newly arrived Army chaplin Captain Paris (Alastair Sim) attempts to book various acts for the entertainment of a troop of soldiers.Newly arrived Army chaplin Captain Paris (Alastair Sim) attempts to book various acts for the entertainment of a troop of soldiers.
IMDb RATING
6.1/10
334
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Frank Launder
  • Writers
    • James Bridie(play: "It Depends What You Mean")
    • Frank Launder(screenplay)
    • John Dighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Alastair Sim
    • Elizabeth Allan
    • Roland Culver
Top credits
  • Director
    • Frank Launder
  • Writers
    • James Bridie(play: "It Depends What You Mean")
    • Frank Launder(screenplay)
    • John Dighton(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Alastair Sim
    • Elizabeth Allan
    • Roland Culver
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 11User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award
      • 1 nomination total

    Photos24

    Alastair Sim in Laughter in Paradise (1951)
    Edward Chapman, Martita Hunt, and Alastair Sim in Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Janet Brown, Martita Hunt, and Alastair Sim in Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)
    Folly to Be Wise (1952)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Alastair Sim
    Alastair Sim
    • Rev. William Parisas Rev. William Paris
    Elizabeth Allan
    Elizabeth Allan
    • Angela Proutas Angela Prout
    Roland Culver
    Roland Culver
    • George Proutas George Prout
    Colin Gordon
    Colin Gordon
    • Professor Mutchas Professor Mutch
    Martita Hunt
    Martita Hunt
    • Lady Doddas Lady Dodd
    Janet Brown
    • Jessieas Jessie
    Peter Martyn
    • Walteras Walter
    Miles Malleson
    Miles Malleson
    • Dr. Hector McAdamas Dr. Hector McAdam
    Edward Chapman
    Edward Chapman
    • Joseph Byres M.P.as Joseph Byres M.P.
    Cyril Chamberlain
    • Drill Sergeantas Drill Sergeant
    Michael Ripper
    Michael Ripper
    • Drill Corporalas Drill Corporal
    Robin Bailey
    Robin Bailey
    • Intellectual Corporalas Intellectual Corporal
    Michael Kelly
    • Staff Sergeantas Staff Sergeant
    Chris Adcock
    • Soldier in Audienceas Soldier in Audience
    • (uncredited)
    William Baskiville
    • Soldier in Audienceas Soldier in Audience
    • (uncredited)
    Martin Boddey
    Martin Boddey
    • Visiting Brigadieras Visiting Brigadier
    • (uncredited)
    Maria Charles
    • WRACas WRAC
    • (uncredited)
    George Cole
    George Cole
    • Soldier in Brains Trust audienceas Soldier in Brains Trust audience
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Frank Launder
    • Writers
      • James Bridie(play: "It Depends What You Mean") (screenplay)
      • Frank Launder(screenplay)
      • John Dighton(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The title comes from Thomas Gray's poem "Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College" (1768). The actual lines (the last two lines of the poem) are ".... Where ignorance is bliss, /'Tis folly to be wise".
    • Goofs
      Just before Walter gives Captain Paris a message for the Doctor, Captain Paris bangs the gavel on the table and then places the gavel next to his glasses. He then receives the message with his left hand. In the next shot he is holding his glasses with his left hand and holding the message with his right hand.
    • Soundtracks
      The Whelk Song
      (uncredited)

      Written by John Temple West, Johnny Johnston and Louise Kulma

    User reviews11

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    The cast is fine, but even Alastair Sim can't save this humdrum comedy
    Alastair Sim was a fine actor who made some very good comedy films. But this is not a good one. Sim's acting as the frustrated and befuddled Royal Army chaplain and newly appointed entertainment officer, is quite good. While it's not very funny, it's the only thing that keeps one watching this film to the end.

    As others have noted, it can easily become boring or blasé. There is very little witty or funny dialog in this film. The humor is mostly in situations. The best of those is during the brain trust show that Sims' Rev. William Paris hosts. That's when George Prout (Roland Culver) and Professor Mutch (Colin Gordon) nearly come to fisticuffs in an argument on the stage.

    Miles Malleson adds some humor as Dr. Hector McAdam. And, the only other funny scene is toward the end. Prout takes off in his car, pulling a house trailer. Unbeknownst to him, Rev. Paris, Angela Prout and Jessie have gone into his trailer looking for him, and they are along for the ride.

    The cast are fine in their roles. Elizabeth Allan plays Angela Prout and Janet Brown plays Jessie, the WAAF secretary for the camp entertainment office. Unfortunately the screenplay isn't very good and most will have a hard time sticking with the film.
    helpful•2
    0
    • SimonJack
    • Dec 27, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 6, 1953 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • London Film Productions
      • British Lion Film Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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