Touch and Go (1955 film)

Touch and Go (U.S. The Light Touch) is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Michael Truman, and starring Jack Hawkins, Margaret Johnston, and June Thorburn.[1] The film was made by Ealing Studios.[2] The film was indifferently received on release, and is not generally included in the canon of classic Ealing Comedies.[3] It did, however, pick up two nominations at the 1956 British Academy Film Awards: Margaret Johnston for "Best British Actress", and William Rose for "Best British Screenplay" – Rose did win that year's screenplay award, but for another Ealing film, The Ladykillers.[4]

Touch and Go
Touch and Go UK release poster
Directed byMichael Truman
Produced byMichael Balcon
Written byWilliam Rose
Tania Rose
StarringJack Hawkins
Margaret Johnston
June Thorburn
Music byJohn Addison
CinematographyDouglas Slocombe
Edited byPeter Tanner
Production
company
Distributed byJ. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (UK)
Universal Pictures (US)
Release date
  • 3 October 1955 (1955-10-03) (UK)
  • 19 March 1956 (1956-03-19) (US)
Running time
85 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Following an argument with a work superior, furniture designer Jim Fletcher quits his job in a fit of pique. He decides that England has nothing to offer him, and that the future for his family is in Australia. He eagerly sets about making emigration plans, and despite the fact that his wife and family are less than enthusiastic about moving to the other side of the world, he disregards their reservations, and presses ahead. Practical and bureaucratic hitches continually threaten to derail the project. Jim must also deal with the opposition of his in-laws, finds himself missing his job, and starts to have doubts himself about the wisdom of the move. However, the snags and pitfalls are finally sorted out, and a firm departure date is set. Then two days before they are due to leave, the Fletchers' daughter meets, and instantly falls in love with, her ideal man after he rescues the family cat, Heathcliff. A good deal of heart-searching ensues before the Fletchers decide whether or not to go ahead with emigration during a delay caused by a missing Heathcliff.

Cast

Critical reception

The Radio Times called the film "A depressing wallow in the sort of whimsy that Ealing foisted upon the world as British Realism";[2] whereas Leonard Maltin was more positive, calling the film a "wry study".[5]

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References
  1. "Touch and Go (1955)".
  2. "Touch and Go". RadioTimes.
  3. Winnert, Derek (4 August 2015). "Touch and Go ** (1955, Jack Hawkins, Margaret Johnston, June Thorburn, John Fraser, Roland Culver, Alison Leggatt, James Hayter)".
  4. "British Film Academy awards and nominations for 1955". Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  5. "Touch and Go". TCM.


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