A Man About the House

A Man About the House

Company type	Film
Industry	Film industry
Founded	1947
Founder	Leslie Arliss (director), J. B. Williams (adapter)
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	British drama film

A Man About the House is a British drama from 1947, directed by Leslie Arliss and adapted by J. B. Williams from Francis Brett Young's 1942 novel. The narrative had previously been adapted for the West End stage in 1946, with performances by Flora Robson and Kieron Moore. The production was overseen by Edward Black, featuring cinematography by Georges Périnal and a musical score composed by Nicholas Brodszky. Filming took place at Shepperton Studios as well as on location near Naples. The film’s set design was crafted by art director Andrej Andrejew.

Plot

Sisters Ellen and Agnes Isit, both English, come into possession of a villa and vineyard in Naples, which are overseen by Salvatore, a longtime employee of their deceased uncle. Ellen becomes enchanted with Salvatore and the local culture, whereas Agnes remains more cautious. Eventually, Agnes weds Salvatore, who then assumes control over the estate.

Following their marriage, Agnes experiences a mysterious deterioration in health. Ellen grows suspicious that Salvatore is administering arsenic to her sister in an attempt to regain his family's ancestral lands, having allegedly already caused their uncle’s death. Assisted by Dr. Benjamin Dench, Agnes’s former fiancé, Ellen embarks on an investigation.

After a tense encounter between Salvatore and Dench atop a cliff, Salvatore chooses to end his own life rather than relinquish ownership of the property. Ellen and Dench return to care for Agnes, who recovers and decides to stay at the villa to oversee the vineyard according to her late husband's wishes. Meanwhile, Ellen and Dench leave for England, having developed a romantic bond.

Cast

• Dulcie Gray as Ellen Isit
• Margaret Johnston as Agnes Isit
• Kieron Moore as Salvatore
• Guy Middleton as Dr. Benjamin Dench
• Felix Aylmer as Richard Sanctuary
• Lilian Braithwaite as Mrs. Armitage
• Reginald Purdell as Higgs
• Wilfred Caithness as Solicitor
• Gina Lollobrigida as a young girl
• Jone Salinas as Maria
• Marisa Finiani as Assunter
• Fulvia De Priamo as Gita
• Nicola Esposita as Antonina
• Andreas Malandrinos as Peasant
• Philip Ridgeway as Polite Man
• Victor Rietta as Railway Porter

Production

The movie was among several new projects launched under Alex Korda’s production umbrella, alongside titles such as The Shop at Sly Corner (1947) and Night Beat (1948). Edward Black, who joined Korda after departing Gainsborough in 1943, initially announced multiple films before moving forward with Man About the House and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Location shooting for Man About the House spanned five weeks in Ravello, Italy, while studio scenes were completed at Shepperton.

Dulcie Gray commended director Leslie Arliss for his clear artistic vision and strong focus on character development. She highlighted his skill in identifying and removing ineffective sequences, which helped transform the film from an initial failure into a success. Gray also expressed regret that the film was not produced in color despite its visually striking cinematography.

Box office

In 1947, the film was recognized as a significant box office success within England. By 30 June 1949, it had grossed £166,075 domestically in the UK, with £111,820 returned to its producer. Another report cited total UK earnings of £187,115.

Critical Reception

Variety observed that the absence of prominent stars might restrict the movie's attractiveness, particularly within the U.S. market, potentially confining its success to a secondary tier. Despite this, the publication commended the production as "quality cinema" with promising potential for widespread distribution.

Radio Adaptation

In 1951, Margaret Johnson returned to portray her character in a radio dramatization based on the film.

Notes

• TimeOut Film Guide - Penguin Books -

External links

• Film review featured in Variety