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Vote for Huggett

Vote for Huggett is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark.[2] It was written by Mabel Constanduros, Denis Constanduros and Allan MacKinnon. In this, the third in the series of films about the Huggetts after Holiday Camp (1947) and Here Come the Huggetts (1948), Warner reprises his role as Joe Huggett, the head of a London family in the post-war years who decides to run as a candidate in the municipal election. It was followed by The Huggetts Abroad (1949).[3]

Vote for Huggett
British 1-sheet poster
Directed byKen Annakin
Written byMabel Constanduros
Denis Constanduros
Allan MacKinnon
Produced byBetty E. Box
StarringJack Warner
Kathleen Harrison
Susan Shaw
Petula Clark
CinematographyReginald H. Wyer
Edited byGordon Hales
Music byAntony Hopkins
Production
company
Distributed byGeneral Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
  • February 1949 (1949-02)
Running time
84 mins
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office£143,000 (by 1953)[1]

Plot

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After writing a letter to the local newspaper, calling for the construction of a pleasure garden for a new war memorial, Joe Huggett is overwhelmed by the response from the public. However, his call is awkward for a corrupt local councillor who has plans of his own for the space from which his business can profit. Other people see opportunities of their own in supporting Huggett's plan and he is persuaded to stand for election as a local councillor. In her efforts to help his campaign, Pet gets rather too enthusiastic. Meanwhile, Susan's love life gets complicated when her boyfriend Peter proposes marriage and then finds he has competition.

Cast

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Production

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Ken Annakin was reluctant to make the Huggett films, wanting to work on more ambitious material, but did it as a favour to Sydney Box, head of Gainsborough. However, he enjoyed working with the cast.[4]

Critical reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "the film is well up to the standard set by the first in the series, and relies for its appeal on its homely humour and fine characterisations by Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison as Joe and Ethel Huggett, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark as their daughters and Diana Dors as niece Diana. Strong support is rendered by the remainder of the cast."[5]

TV Guide described Vote for Huggett as "one of three films in the rather dismal 'Huggett Family' series".[6]

The Radio Times praised Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison, "wonderful as mum and dad and yes, that's a young Diana Dors as the troublesome niece".[7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Standard Huggett shenanigans, quite entertaining."[8]

References

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  1. ^ Andrew Spicer, Sydney Box Manchester Uni Press 2006 p 211
  2. ^ "Vote for Huggett". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
  3. ^ "FAMILY LIFE SERIES by British Producers". The Mercury. Vol. CLXX, no. 24, 665. Tasmania, Australia. 31 December 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 12 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ Annakin, Ken (2001). So you wanna be a director?. Tomahawk Press. pp. 40–41.
  5. ^ "Vote for Huggett". petulaclark.net.
  6. ^ "Vote For Huggett". TVGuide. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015.
  7. ^ Baxter, Brian. "Vote for Huggett". RadioTimes. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015.
  8. ^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 258. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.
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