Conditions like in paradise
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | Conditions like in paradise |
| Original title | The Admirable Crichton |
| Country of production | United Kingdom |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1957 |
| length | 94 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 6 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Lewis Gilbert |
| script | Vernon Harris |
| production | Ian Dalrymple |
| music | Douglas Gamley |
| camera | Wilkie Cooper |
| cut | Peter R. Hunt |
| occupation | |
| |
Conditions like in paradise (Original title: The Admirable Crichton ) is a British comedy film from 1957 by Lewis Gilbert . The film is based on the play "The Admirable Crichton" by JM Barrie , which premiered in 1902 .
action
England around 1905: William Crichton is a diligent butler in the service of the Loam family. The curious thing about it: while Earl Henry Loam pursues a more liberal-social approach and advocates equality, Crichton defends the existing class system despite his class. An afternoon tea with the nobility and servants, which the Earl thought of as an "experiment", turns out to be an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved.
When Lady Catherine, one of Loam's three daughters, is arrested as a suffragette , Crichton suggests that the Earl take the family and some acquaintances on a boat trip to the South Seas until the waves of the scandal have calmed down. This is how it happens, but the Earl's steamer only gets caught in a storm while driving and ultimately breaks down after the machines have detonated. Crichton, who saves the sleeping maid Eliza, misses his lifeboat. Both jump into the water and finally escape into the (not actually intended for them) boat of the aristocratic family.
In this way, Crichton, Eliza, the Earl, Lady Catherine and their sisters Mary and Agatha, the clergyman Treherne and Lord Wooley are stranded on a tropical island. This shows that Crichton is apparently the only one who considers everyone's plight rationally and is able, for example, to make a fire or to set up camp for the night. Later he sets out on his own to swim to the steamer yacht, which is now drifting towards a reef without a driver, and to save what is possible and useful to them.
The situation finally escalates when the aristocrats around Loam Crichton demand that when they make another detour to the shipwreck, they prefer to recover their own luxury goods instead of necessary utensils. Crichton then declares himself responsible for the group - and is immediately fired by the Earl. However, the others quickly notice that they are practically helpless without Crichton and finally give in. Only Lady Mary remains iron, but ultimately submits to the group pressure.
Two years have passed, in which the situation has changed completely: Crichton is now the undisputed leader of their band, while the aristocrats follow his instructions, give him a hand - and thus in fact serve him. Furthermore, the eight have now come to terms with their new life, their situation and the circumstances and are satisfied. Crichton, however, is spoiled for choice when it comes to love: either he marries Eliza (called by everyone "Tweeny" after "Between Maid"), who has long been close to his heart, or Lady Mary, who has meanwhile also joined him feels attracted. Crichton's choice ultimately falls on Mary and the group holds a wedding reception - when suddenly a ship is sighted.
The joy of a possible rescue remains subdued and ultimately Mary expresses what everyone thinks: whether it would really be better to return to their old homeland and the conditions there, where they have founded their own society over the last two years and are happy in their new lives. Ultimately, however, Crichton, of all people, relieves them of the decision and lights their beacon. When the rescuing ship's crew arrives, he puts on his old servant uniform again and falls into this role, which results in a very uncomfortable situation for the others.
Back in Britain, the group returns to their usual social roles as they did before the voyage. Everyone is silent, with Wooley authoring a book about their rescue and portraying himself heroically in it. Doubts arise about this, but in the end they remain unfounded: Crichton reports on the events when asked, but rewraps them in such a way that everyone involved can get out of the matter without losing face.
A little later, he submitted his resignation to the Earl in order to want to start his own business. The latter offers him financial support, which Crichton refuses politely and thankfully ... and shows Loam a sack of pearls that he was able to collect during his stay in the South Seas. Mary ultimately tries to persuade him to stay by going back to the island with Crichton. With reference to the seemingly unbridgeable social differences, Crichton denies this and leaves the aristocratic estate together with Eliza, who happily accepts his offer to live together.
Trivia
- “Conditions like in paradise” is not the only cinematic implementation of the stage comedy, but the best known. In addition to two silent films (1918 and 1919) and two television films (1950 and 1967), there are also a French (1933), a Chinese (1936) adaptation and the 1934 US theatrical version "Shipwreck under Palms" with Bing Crosby and Carole Lombard .
- In the USA the film was released under the title "Paradise Lagoon".
- Kenneth More was filmed above the waist in several scenes, primarily on the island, as he was not wearing pants due to the tropical heat.
Reviews
“A film that appears to be sociological and reactionary in its theses, which emphasizes the justification of class thinking. Some pretty comedy effects barely break through in the over-the-top story. "
Individual evidence
- ^ Conditions like in paradise. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed May 16, 2017 .
Web links
- Conditions like in paradise in the Internet Movie Database (English)