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After WWII, comedian Tommy Trinder toured extensively abroad, returning home
to find his British profile somewhat diminished. Eager to regain lost ground,
early in 1955 he signed up with the tiny, family-owned Adelphi film company for
You Lucky People!
The script dealt with the humorous exploits of Class Z Reservists (previously enlisted
soldiers available for recall to active service) compelled to leave civvy street for a
refresher course of training. Adelphi may not have been Ealing, where Trinder made his best-regarded work, but
the prospect of a new film tailored to showcase his comedy (the original title,
Get Fell In, was changed to match Trinder's familiar catchphrase) - represented
an excellent opportunity for widespread exposure.
After permission to use 20th Century Fox's trademark Cinemascope was sternly
denied, it was shot by veteran director Maurice Elvey using a rival French
process, christened CameraScope by Adelphi's Arthur Dent. It was, proclaimed the
pre-release publicity, "the first feature to be made with an anamorphic lens in
black and white! It's a camerascoop!"
The film premiered at the Cinema Exhibitors Association's 1955 summer
conference in Llandudno, an event usually dominated by the screening of a
prestigious new release from the Rank Organisation. This year the Rank boys were
busy setting up the VistaVision widescreen process at Pinewood, and by chance,
the Dents scored another camerascoop. You Lucky People! had pride of place,
playing on the conference's closing night, and was followed by an Adelphi dinner
dance for the delegates.
That evening the town band, hired by Adelphi publicist Michael Glynn, marched
along the high street - bedecked with Adelphi banners for the occasion - bashing
out rousing tunes outside the delegates' hotel. They were led by one of the
film's cast, noisy celebrity Sergeant Major Ronald Brittain.
Enthusiastically received by industry attendees, You Lucky People! garnered
highly positive reviews. Kine Weekly championed Elvey, declaring it "expertly
handled by the doyen of English directors... team work hearty, gags both time
honoured and topical and staging generous." The film was booked for the whole of
the Rank-owned Gaumont cinema circuit, given respectable equal billing with
American crime drama The Naked Street (1955).
The film did steady business. Better still it kept Trinder fresh in the
public consciousness and reinforced his credentials as a British comedian,
before, in September 1955, he found renewed fame as the host of ITV's Sunday
Night at the London Palladium (1955-67).
Vic Pratt
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1. On the parade ground (3:24)
