Storm in a Teacup (film)
| Storm in a Teacup | |
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Theatrical poster
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| Directed by | |
| Produced by | Victor Saville |
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| Starring | |
| Music by | Frederick Lewis |
| Cinematography | Mutz Greenbaum |
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| Distributed by | United Artists (US) |
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Running time
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87 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Storm in a Teacup is a 1937 British romantic comedy film starring Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison in his first starring role,Cecil Parker, and Sara Allgood. It is based on the German play Sturm im Wasserglas by Bruno Frank, as well as the English-language adaptations: London's Storm in a Teacup and Broadway's Storm Over Patsy, both written by James Bridie. A reporter writes an article that embarrasses a politician. Meanwhile, the newspaperman is also attracted to his target's daughter.
A Scottish town's powerful mayor (referred to as "Provost") struts and brags about his city "improvements", while the cowed villagers are sullenly forced to put up with him. A free-spirited English reporter (Rex Harrison) is brought from London to work for the local newspaper and soon clashes with the autocrat - while falling in love with his daughter (Vivien Leigh). He strikes out against the Provost by taking up the cause of a poor woman who sells ice cream from a pushcart, and who has dared to protest against the mayor's new "dog tax". Her sheep dog, Patsy, is about to be put to death by the local police because she cannot pay the back taxes (and subsequent fine) incurred by her ownership of the dog.
When the idealistic young reporter exposes the injustice being done to her in the local newspaper (before the editors have a chance to suppress the article), it sparks an indignant protest campaign all over England and Scotland. The furious mayor rashly sues the "cheeky little rotter from London" for libel. A courtroom scene ensues which strongly resembles a "kangaroo trial" until, in view of local support for the defendant (with the villagers humorously barking like dogs) and the budding love affair between the reporter and the mayor's daughter, the mayor gives up, and all is happily resolved.
At the time of the film's initial release, reviews were favourable. In The New York Times, Frank S. Nugent called it "an engaging miniature" and "a splendid comic brew". The critic for The Montreal Gazette wrote, "the excellent story is done fullest justice by the directors, Victor Saville and Dalrymple, and by the large and often-brilliant cast." The critic for Boys' Life called it "a riot of fun for the audience."
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Wikipedia