La petite hutte

Not everyone who sees "The Little Hut" will understand the humor displayed. It is a more worldly comedy from another time--fifty years ago. What made us laugh then or 100 years ago or even now, is different, because we are products of the time period and location in which we live.

Ava Gardner portrays Lady Susan Ashlow, a play on a previous character from "The Sun Also Rises", Lady Brett Ashley (also released 1957). Stuart Grainger, who co-starred with her in "Bhowani Junction" the previous year and David Niven, who co-stared with her later in "55 Days At Peking" also star. It's tongue-in-cheek repartee are over the heads of most of the "X" generation that only can read enough to access information on the internet. If you've never read a book, don't bother seeing this movie--you won't get it. But if you remember: Kennedy, cocktail hour, the bomb, etc. you will understand and enjoy this movie.

If The Little Hut had been done as originally written by Andre Roussin had been done this might have been a far better film. In the original version the Ava Gardner character actually does have sex with all concerned on the island she's stranded on. But Hollywood is still in 1957 a prisoner of the Code so that kind of infidelity could never be shown on the big screen. If there is a French language version of The Little Hut I'll bet it's far better.

The French characters are changed to British here and even stranded on a tropical island they all behave quite civilized even in adultery. Stewart Granger and Ava Gardner are married and are on a yachting tour with a party of friends including Granger's best friend David Niven. The ship goes down and the three of them are stranded on the island where they build two huts, a big one for the married couple and The Little Hut for Niven.

But with not a whole lot to do on the island they engage in a lot of frank dialog and Niven opens up that he's been Gardner's lover for about six years. Granger who does kind of take things for granted with Gardner is affronted, but as captain of the former ship decides that if his powers include marriage they also include divorce. He divorces Gardner and Granger and Niven exchange huts. Later on a really hunky looking native that Gardner looks lasciviously on enters the picture and things really get complicated.

That lascivious look was not acting on Ava's part because she was involved with Italian actor Walter Chiari at that time. If the script had called for them to do the deed she would have no doubt been even better.

The Little Hut with all the sex taken out plays like a combination of The Admirable Crichton, Three's Company, and Gilligan's Island. I'm sure Sherwood Schwartz who produced Gilligan's Island saw how the cast lived on that island, how they showed such ingenuity in creating some creature comforts, that he probably incorporated much of it in his show. It's the best part of The Little Hut.

The play on which this was based was a big hit on the West End of London, but when it came to Broadway in 1953 it flopped terribly with only 29 performances. Playing the Granger, Niven, and Gardner roles on Broadway were Roland Culver, Colin Gordon, and Anne Vernon.

If the film were done 20 years later as originally conceived by Andre Roussin the results would have been better. But the stars especially Niven are three of the most charming folks around and they put it over as best they could.

Discovered this great comedy from 1957 on TCM and enjoyed the great acting and pretty looks of Ava Gardner, (Lady Susan Ashlow) who was married to Sir Philip Ashlow, (Stewart Granger) and a great supporting actor David Niven, (Henry Brittingham-Brett). Lady Susan Ashlow is neglected by her husband, Sir Philip Ashlow and Susan seeks the constant companionship of Henry Brett who is a bachelor. Susan tries to make her husband jealous by always going out with Henry and eventually Susan convinces her husband to take a cruise on their yacht as a sort of honeymoon. However, Philip decides to invite Henry on the cruise and things happen on the cruise that causes everyone to become shipwrecked on an island and things begin to get rather crazy. Eventually Henry asks Philip if he can share Susan in bed every once in awhile and the story gets really funny and out of control. Good entertaining 1957 film, enjoy.

With a deliciously naughty premise for the genre, Little Hut carefully walks the line between teasing and tempting, with witty dialogue and an excellent cast. David Niven gives a superb performance opposite the stunning Ava Gardner, as the neurotic Englishman Henry Brittingham-Brett. The pair attempts to navigate the dangerous and sultry waters of unrequited love, while remaining firmly within the bounds of high society. The dialogue is witty, the situation drole, and the chemistry between the two leads superb - an excellent start.

Unfortunately, Stewart Granger's character never really becomes convincing, and acts more as a prop to back-up the action between the two leads. It's a pity, since when the script gives him a chance, he is easily their comedic equal. However, the script never really does - and, once the central premise is revealed, it quickly loses its way, becoming plodding and tiresome with only the two leads to rely on. The film is partially saved at the last minute, with Walter Chiari's highly amusing - and savage - performance. The dynamic he adds re-invigorates the play's sense of wit and naughtiness, just in time for the curtain to fall.

The script of "The little hut" was written by the French writer André Roussin (1911-1987), based on his play "La petite hutte"(1947). Both play and script are, in fact, a plagiarism of another play in Catalan, written by the novelist and play writer Carles Soldevila (1892-1967), "Civilitzats tanmateix" ("Nevertheless civilized")(1921). This play was known in France much before the robbery of Roussin, through a translation by Adolphe de Faigairolle and Francesc Presas, published in 1927 in the magazine "Candide". Recently "Civilitzats tanmateix" has become a musical by Albert Guinovart, with the title of "Paradís" (Paradise).