Date with a Dream

Pretty much average to poor with the exceptions of the few minutes where the Vic Lewis Orchestra is performing, but I could listen to recordings of them on YouTube without the long breaks in between...

This is a film of little quality as a comedy musical. The main characters did not make me laugh and the musical numbers,apart from one in which the orchestra plays in the hall and staircase of a boarding house, are not memorable. The brightest spot is the few seconds in which Norman Wisdom is shown performing part of one of his stage routines. It is of some historical interest in showing the demob kitting out of ex-servicemen,in the shots of 1948 London,and in its portrayal of the attempts of demobbed servicemen to cope with civilian life.

A Date with a Dream is directed by Dicky Leeman who also co-writes the screenplay with Robert S. Baker, Monty Berman and Carl Nystrom. It stars Terry-Thomas, Jeannie Carson, Len Lowe, Bill Lowe, Wally Patch and Vic Lewis. Music is by Vic Lewis and cinematography by Monty Berman.

A wartime band are demobbed and meet up a year later to reform their act. Only there's one or two problems in the way this time...

The very definition of the British support feature. Running at under an hour, plot is wafer thin and film really serves mostly to let the cast showcase some of their early stage craft. It's highly energetic and always engaging, while it's note worthy as a 1948 London period piece. Songs are foot tappers, with the wonderful "Unlucky" the stand out, and Terry-Thomas steals the show even as he breaks the fourth wall. Future star Norman Wisdom appears in his first film in a ten second role as a shadow boxer continually being knocked to the ground. 6/10

Less than an hour long, Tempean Films' maiden production (shot in a tiny studio in Kensington called Viking) would have been substantially longer had the cast not seemed to be rushing to complete their lines before the camera ran out of film.

Moving at breakneck speed in a welter of whip pans and burst wipes, Monty Berman's photography is up to his usual high standard and while Terry Thomas (without the hyphen and at his least funny when actually doing his stand-up routine) and Jean Carson (without the "nie") play the leads, if you pay attention Norman Wisdom also makes a fleeting unbilled appearance apparently knocking himself out. For the teenagers, Thomas also shares a few scenes with Uncle Wally Patch (they were both later in 'I'm All Right Jack', but not together).

A quartet who have been entertaining the army demob, but at the suggestion of Terry-Thomas, decide to try their group on the civilian circuit. All of them try to woo chick singer Jeannie Carson.

It's all an excuse to hang some sets by Vic Lewis and his band, and to show some comics at work, including Harry Green and Norman Wisdom in his big-screen debut. It's slight, clearly B movie material, but the art direction by George Jones and camerawork by Monty Berman are pleasant, and the light jazz music is pleasant.