British Comedy Guide
Curtain Up. Image shows from L to R: Jerry Winterton (Michael Medwin), Avis (Joan Rice). Copyright: Rank Organisation / ITV Studios
Curtain Up

Curtain Up

  • 1952 film

A provincial theatre repertory company is thrown into disarray by a new play. Stars Robert Morley, Margaret Rutherford, Kay Kendall, Michael Medwin, Olive Sloane and more.

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Curtain Up. Image shows from L to R: George (Charles Lamb), Catherine Beckwith (Margaret Rutherford), Daphne (Charlotte Mitchell). Copyright: Rank Organisation / ITV Studios

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1952
Stars
Robert Morley, Margaret Rutherford, Kay Kendall, Michael Medwin, Olive Sloane, Liam Gaffney, Lloyd Lamble, Charlotte Mitchell and more
Writers
Philip King, Michael Pertwee and Jack Davies
Director
Ralph Smart
Producers
Robert Garrett and George Pitcher
Companies

The repertory company of a provincial English theatre finds their routine and delicate balance of egos put under great strain as they begin rehearsing a new play.

Forced upon them by one of the theatre's directors, Tarnished Gold is described by producer-director Harry Blacker as a "horror", with awful characters, terrible drama, and a largely missing plot. To make matters worse, the writer, Jeremy St Clair, is to attend only their second rehearsal.

It is not long before an elderly lady arrives at the stage door. Polite but boisterous, she introduces herself as Catherine Beckwith, aka Jeremy St Clair, aunt of the theatre's director - much to the company's expectations!

As Blacker attempts to begin rehearsals for the confusing new piece, Beckwith's incessant comments and criticisms of the production and direction begin. Blacker's assistant director and stage manager is far from amused by either his boss or their author's behaviour, whilst Blacker is putting off firing one of the members of the company who's not proving a success, and another pair - a married couple - seem intent on bickering over their dreams of stardom.

With a series of competing interests vying for attention; a concerned father; an irate husband; a frustrated stage manager; producer at the end of his tether; confusing script; and insistent author, it seems that Tarnished Gold might not open on Monday next after all.

Additional details

UK certificate
U
Duration
82 minutes
UK release
Monday 12th May 1952
Distributors

General Film Distributors

Production
Studio
Picture
Colour

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Wednesday 8th July 2020 at 11:05am on TPTV
  • Thursday 19th March 2020 at 12:10pm on TPTV
  • Friday 20th December 2019 at 4:35pm on TPTV

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