Raising a Riot
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 1955 |
| Founder | Wendy Toye (director), Ian Dalrymple (producer) |
| Products | Comedy film |
Raising a Riot is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye, featuring performances by Kenneth More, Shelagh Fraser, and Mandy Miller. The narrative centers on a naval officer who faces challenges managing his three children while his wife is away.
Plot summary
Commander Peter Kent comes back after spending three years overseas, only to find himself ill-equipped to handle parenting his three youngsters, ranging from five to eleven years old. During his wife's trip to Canada, Peter takes the children to his father’s recently acquired rural residence—a repurposed windmill—where they become involved in disputes with an American family living nearby.
Cast
- Kenneth More as Peter Kent
- Shelagh Fraser as Mary Kent
- Mandy Miller as Anne Kent
- Gary Billings as young Peter Kent
- Fusty Bentine as Fusty Kent
- Ronald Squire as Grampy
- Olga Lindo as Aunt Maud
- Lionel Murton as Hary
- Mary Laura Wood as Jacqueline
- Jan Miller as Sue
- Nora Nicholson as Miss Pettigrew
- Anita Sharp-Bolster as Mrs Buttons
- Michael Bentine as The Professor
Production
The film adapts Alfred Toombs' 1949 book, which draws on his wartime experiences caring for his children after a prolonged absence. This narrative was earlier transformed into a stage play by Tom Taggart in 1952.
Initially, Kenneth More was attached to star in The Alcock and Brown Story under Alexander Korda’s production; however, Korda’s financial collapse ended that project. Subsequently, producers Lord Brabourne and Ian Dalrymple shifted the focus to create Raising a Riot with a reduced budget. When Ken Annakin declined the director role, Wendy Toye was appointed to lead the production.
Toye acknowledged producer Dalrymple’s crucial role in supporting the film and securing Kenneth More for the principal part. Shooting occurred at Shepperton Studios, with Joseph Bato responsible for set design.
Instead of casting trained child actors, Toye chose youngsters from acting families, believing this fostered a more authentic atmosphere during filming.
Box office
The movie achieved the position of eighth highest-grossing film at the British box office in 1955. Kinematograph Weekly identified it as a "money maker." The National Film Finance Corporation reported that it yielded a comfortable profit, largely due to Kenneth More’s strong audience appeal.
Critical
The New York Times referred to it as "pleasant entertainment," commending More’s comedic talents, particularly in scenes with a dog reminiscent of that in Genevieve. Later critiques were varied: the Radio Times described it as a "lightweight, single-idea comedy" sustained chiefly by More’s refined performance but deemed it outdated and lacking vitality; meanwhile, AllMovie noted its multiple humorous elements, especially focusing on the rivalry between the children and their American counterparts.
According to Variety, the film primarily aimed to leverage Kenneth More’s growing popularity following successes like Genevieve and Doctor in the House. It criticized the storyline for being insubstantial, describing it as one moderately amusing premise insufficient for an entire feature. Nonetheless, More’s impeccable comedic timing and charm were highlighted within the constraints of the script.
Director Wendy Toye fondly remembered working on the film, emphasizing "because Kenny is so good in it."
External links
- Raising a Riot on TCMDB
- Raising a Riot via BFI
- Raising a Riot on Letterboxd