The Girl in Possession

The Girl in Possession
Henry Kendall and Laura La Plante in a scene from the film[1]
Directed byMonty Banks
Written byMonty Banks
Produced byIrving Asher
StarringLaura La Plante
Henry Kendall
Claude Hulbert
CinematographyBasil Emmott
Distributed byWarner Brothers-First National Productions
Release date
  • March 1934 (1934-03)
Running time
72 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

The Girl in Possession is a lost 1934 British comedy film directed and written by Monty Banks and starring Laura La Plante and Henry Kendall.[2]

Preservation status

The British Film Institute has classed The Girl in Possession as a lost film.[3] Its National Archive holds a collection of stills but no film or video materials.[2]

Plot

Wisecracking New York girl Eve Chandler learns that she has inherited a large country estate in England. She crosses the Atlantic with her friend Julie, only to find that things are not as straightforward as she had been led to believe. Complications ensue as she crosses paths with silly-ass toff Cedric, unscrupulous continental lothario Caruso and snobbish butler Saunders before she manages to sort matters out with the help of the kindly Sir Mortimer, with whom she falls in love.

Cast

Production

The film was a quota quickie production shot at Twickenham Studios.

Reception

Kine Weekly wrote: "Refreshing farcical comedy which runs a gauntlet of merry humour from New York to England and finds its artless but popular fun mainly in the individual efforts of Monte Banks and Claude Hulbert, both of whom cut lively capers."[4]

The Daily Film Renter wrote: "Number of old comedy gags trotted out afresh, but treatment on snappy lines, providing succession of laughs. Acting on free farce lines, with rib-tickling performances from Claude Hulbert and Monty. Banks. Safe second feature for the popular house."[5]

Picture Show wrote: "Amusing incidents and complications occur on both sides of the Atlantic. Pleasant and wholesome entertainment; Claude Hulbert scores a success. Photography and English settings are excellent."[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "The Girl in Possession". Picture Show. 31 (794): 19. 21 July 1934. ProQuest 1879629600.
  2. ^ a b "The Girl in Possession". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
  3. ^ Eyles, Allen; Meeker, David, eds. (1992). "The Girl in Possession". Missing Believed Lost: The Great British Film Search. British Film Institute. pp. 49–51. ISBN 0851703062.
  4. ^ "The Girl in Possession". Kine Weekly. 205 (1403): 33. 8 March 1934. ProQuest 2338086639.
  5. ^ "The Girl in Possession". The Daily Film Renter. 205 (2187): 4. 1 March 1934. ProQuest 2594617835.