Those People Next Door ** (1953, Jack Warner, Charles Victor, Marjorie Rhodes, Gladys Henson, Garry Marsh, Jimmy James, Anthony Newley) – Classic Movie Review 13,534

The class-conscious 1953 film Those People Next Door is a story of Brits raising their family in the shadow of the Blitz, and stars Jack Warner, Charles Victor and Marjorie Rhodes

Director John Harlow’s 1953 class-conscious British black and white comedy film Those People Next Door is a story of Brits raising their family in the shadow of the Blitz, and stars Jack Warner, Charles Victor and Marjorie Rhodes, along with Gladys Henson, Garry Marsh, Jimmy James and Anthony Newley.

Jack Warner as working-class Sam Twigg and Marjorie Rhodes as his wife Mary enliven a mild, minor World War Two-set British comedy about a man whose titled parents object to his working class fiancée.

Sam and Mary’s pretty daughter Anne (Patricia Cutts) becomes romantically involved with RAF officer Victor Stevens (Peter Forbes-Robertson), but Victor’s posh wealthy parents, Sir Andrew Stevens (Garry Marsh) and Lady Stevens (Grace Arnold), object to the match because of the class difference. 

Charles Victor and Gladys Henson as Sam and Mary’s next door neighbours Joe and Emma Higgins and Garry Marsh and Grace Arnold as Sir Andrew and Lady Stevens help Warner and Rhodes out on the acting front, Patricia Cutts plays Anne Twigg sweetly, Jimmy James does his then famous musical hall drunk act, and young Anthony Newley pops in too, as Bob Twigg.

Zelda Davees’s screenplay is based on a forgotten play by Zelda Davees called Wearing the Pants.

Those People Next Door is made by Mancunian Film Corporation at the Eros Film Studios in Manchester, England. It was released in the UK by Eros Films in February 1953.

The cast are Jack Warner as Sam Twigg, Charles Victor as Joe Higgins, Marjorie Rhodes as Mary Twigg, Gladys Henson as Emma Higgins, Patricia Cutts as Anne Twigg, Garry Marsh as Sir Andrew Stevens, Jimmy James as drunk, Anthony Newley as Bob Twigg,  Grace Arnold as Lady Stevens, Norah Gorsen as Margaret Twigg, Geoffrey Sumner as Flight Lieutenant Claude Kimberley, Peter Forbes-Robertson as Victor Stevens, and Eli Woods as Eli.

Those People Next Door is directed by John Harlow, runs 77 minutes, is made by Mancunian Film Corporation, is released by Eros Films (UK), is written by Zelda Davees, is shot in black and white by Roy Fogwell, is produced by Tom Blakeley, and is scored by Billy Butler (musical director).

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,534

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