The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss [The Amazing Adventure] [Romance and Riches] ** (1936, Cary Grant, Mary Brian, Peter Gawthorne) – Classic Movie Review 11,277

Director Alfred Zeisler’s 1936 black and white romantic comedy drama The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss [The Amazing Adventure] [Romance and Riches] stars Bristol-born Cary Grant, who came back to Britain for this routine and now faded comedy drama with a characteristic Thirties plot (revived in the Nineties by Mel Brooks in Life Stinks) about a millionaire (Grant) who bets he can live without his money for a year.

The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss is nevertheless well worth a look for Grant’s performance and the rare novelty of him acting in his native Britain, as well as for the appearances of some treasured UK names: Garry Marsh, Ralph Richardson, Moore Marriott.

John L Balderston’s screenplay is based on a novel by E Phillips Oppenheim.

Also in the cast are Mary Brian, Henry Kendall, Leon M Lion, Garry Marsh, Ralph Richardson, Moore Marriott, John Turnbull, Arthur Hardy, Iris Ashley, Andreas Malandrinos, Alfred Wellesley, Marie Wright, Buena Bent, Charles Farrell, Quinton McPherson and Peter Gawthorne.

The failure of the copyright holder to renew the film’s copyright resulted in it falling into public domain.

The film was re-issued in the US in 1937 as The Amazing Adventure [or Romance and Riches], edited down from the UK running time of 80 minutes to 61 minutes.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,277

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