Dear Mr Prohack *** (1949, Cecil Parker, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Dirk Bogarde Sheila Sim, Denholm Elliott) – Classic Movie Review 9802

Director Thornton Freeland’s 1949 British comedy Dear Mr Prohack features Cecil Parker recreating his stage role as capable, frugal government treasury official Mr Arthur Prohack, who goes berserk and becomes a spendthrift when he comes into money – ‘swept off his feet by a fortune’.

This pleasant though meek and mild comedy, based on Arnold Bennett’s 1922 novel and a play version by Edward Knoblock, in an updated version, is given a lift by the exceptional players. Parker and Hermione Baddeley as his wife Eve are as entertaining as always, on fine form, though they would not have lasted five minutes as real husband and wife.

Dirk Bogarde plays Parker’s son Charles, who starts a dubious business, and he is good, but he is outshone by Denholm Elliott (in his feature debut) as the son-in-law, Oswald Morfrey. Glynis Johns plays Mimi Warburton, Sheila Sim is Mary Prohack and Heather Thatcher plays Lady Maslam. All three are notable.

Glynis Johns was married to Anthony Forwood (29 August 1942 – 1948) (divorced) (one son, Gareth Forwood, 1945 – 2007). Anthony Forwood was Dirk Bogarde’s partner and manager until his death in 1988.

Also in the cast are Heather Thatcher, Henry Edwards, Judith Furse, Denholm Elliott, Frances Waring, Charles Goldner, Campbell Cotts, Russell Waters, Henry Edwards, Frederick Valk, Bryan Forbes, James Hayter, Jon Pertwee, Judith Furse, Ian Carmichael, Frederick Leister, Ada Reeve, Elwyn Brook-Jones, Lloyd Pearson, Jerry Verno, Charles Perry and Janet Burnell.

Dear Mr Prohack is directed by Thornton Freeland, runs 91 minutes, is made by Wessex Film Productions, is released by General Film Distributors (UK) and Paramount Pictures (US), is written by Ian Dalrymple and Donald Bull, , based on Arnold Bennett’s 1922 novel and a play version by Edward Knoblock, and shot in black and white by H E Fowle, produced by Ian Dalrympleand scored by Temple Abady.

It is the last film of Thornton Freeland.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9802

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