Just William’s Luck *** (1947, William Graham, Garry Marsh, Leslie Bradley, A E Matthews, Jane Welsh, Brian Roper, James Crabbe, Brian Weske- Classic Movie Review 11,861

Writer-director Val Guest’s 1947 British comedy sequel Just William’s Luck is based on the beloved stories of Richmal Crompton, and stars William Graham, Garry Marsh, Leslie Bradley, A E Matthews, Jane Welsh, Brian Roper, James Crabbe and Brian Weske.

In acceptable cast changes with entirely different performers, there is a new William Brown (Graham), Mr Brown (Marsh), Mrs Brown (Welsh), Ginger (Roper), Douglas (Crabbe) and Henry (Weske) this time in this belated sequel to 1939’s Just William.

Val Guest’s original screenplay tackles the old, old plot about kids – in this case William and his gang The Outlaws – helping to round up a gang of crooks – in this case fur robbers – operating out of a spooky house that is supposedly haunted. The plot gets a brisk re-working in this most pleasing adaptation of the Richmal Crompton characters.

Crompton liked the film and wrote a novel Just William’s Luck based on the film. The following year came a third film William Comes to Town.

It is Michael Balfour’s cinema debut, as Jenks [or Tonks]. He made six films in 1948, including William Comes to Town.

It is shot at Southall Studios, Middlesex, England.

It premiered in London on 17 December 1947.

The cast are William Graham – William Brown, Garry Marsh – Mr. Brown, Jane Welsh – Mrs. Brown, Hugh Cross – Robert Brown, Kathleen Stuart – Ethel Brown, Leslie Bradley as The Boss, A. E. Matthews – The Tramp, Muriel Aked – Emily, the Maid, Brian Roper – Ginger, Brian Weske – Henry, Audrey Manning – Violet Elizabeth, Hy Hazell – Gloria Gail, Patricia Cutts – Gloria’s Secretary, James Crabbe – Douglas, Michael Balfour – Jenks [or Tonks], Ivan Hyde – Glazier, Joan Hickson – Hubert’s Mother, John Powe – Policeman, Anne Marie – Masseur, Leslie Hazell – Hubert’s Gang, Peter David – Hubert’s Gang, John O’Hara – Hubert’s Gang, Michael Medwin as Spiv, John Martell – Johnnie, Ivan Craig – The Boss’s Gang, Jack Raine as Police Sergeant and Stanley Baker as Fur Thief.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,861

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com