Laughter in Paradise

Laughter in Paradise
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Mario Zampi
Produced by	Mario Zampi
Written by	Jack Davies Michael Pertwee
Starring	Alastair Sim Fay Compton George Cole Guy Middleton
Music by	Stanley Black
Cinematography	William McLeod
Edited by	Giulio Zampi
Distributed by	Associated British-Pathe
Release date	13 June 1951
Running time	93 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	£256,579 (UK)

Laughter in Paradise is a British comedy film released in 1951. The film stars Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole and Guy Middleton. The film was remade in 1970 as Some Will, Some Won't.

When wealthy, well-known practical joker Henry Russell (Hugh Griffith) dies, four relatives find out that they stand to each inherit £50,000 ... provided that they commit acts that are completely contrary to their natures. Law-abiding Deniston Russell (Alastair Sim), a retired army officer who writes lurid novels under several fictional names, has to get himself arrested and jailed for exactly 28 days within a week. Difficult, snobbish Agnes Russell (Fay Compton) has to find employment as a domestic servant in a middle-class home, again within a week, and keep her position for a month. Simon Russell (Guy Middleton) is a womanising cad; his task is to marry the first single woman he speaks to. Timid Herbert Russell (George Cole) is assigned to hold up the bank manager he works for in his office, using a mask and a toy pistol, and obtain the bank keys for two minutes.

Deniston is thwarted repeatedly in his attempts, but finally manages to complete his task. It costs him his fiancée Elizabeth Robson (Joyce Grenfell) when he is brought up before the magistrate, Elizabeth's father, but is surprised to discover it is a cost he is quite willing to pay.

Agnes ends up working for irascible Gordon Webb (John Laurie). When he sacks her, she offers him a large sum to keep her on. He engages private detective Roger Godfrey (Anthony Steel) to find out what she is up to, while taking advantage of the odd situation by making her life even more difficult than before. Roger falls in love with Gordon's long-suffering daughter Joan (Veronica Hurst), but she is unwilling to marry him as her father depends on her. After Agnes persuades her to change her mind, Gordon sacks her.

When Herbert finally gathers the nerve to go through with his assignment, he inadvertently foils an actual robbery and becomes a hero and is rewarded with a branch managership.

Simon speaks first to Frieda, a cigarette girl he knows, but hides this fact in order to hunt for a wealthier wife. After he accomplishes his task, he discovers that he has married a woman as unscrupulous (and as poor) as himself, the niece of his butler, having made the mistake of telling his butler the whole story.