The Right Age to Marry

Act One: Frank Pettingell retires from 36 years running his Lancashire mill, puts his nephew, Tom Helmore, in charge -- after telling him that he can't marry Moira Lynd until he is 40 -- and retires to Brighton.

Act Two: Pettingell falls off a horse, loses his golf balls and asks Moira's gold-digging aunt, Ruby Miller to marry him. She says yes, but Helmore runs off to Paris to marry Miss Lynd. The mill burns down and Helmore hasn't paid the insurance.

Act Three: Pettingell returns to Lancashire, starts to repair his fortune, and learns what a general fool about life he has been.

The Manchester school of drama survives mostly in HINDLE WAKES, HOBSON'S CHOICE and a few cheaply produced, rote Quota Quickies like this one. There's no doubt about its status. It is directed by Maclean Rogers, the United Kingdom's answer to William Beaudine. Fortunately, it's only an hour long, so if you want to watch people who usually played minor supporting roles handle leads -- although saying "E!" a lot -- this is a watchable time waster.

This is one of 43 quota quickies made by George Smith in the 1930s.Many of them directed by McLean Rogers.This one highlights the difference in manners between North and South,a sort of mini J B Priestley.It is actually quite effective in its own unamb itious way.It was made for distribution,in the UK only by RKO.