The Dog and the Diamonds is a 1953 British family drama film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Kathleen Harrison, George Coulouris, and Geoffrey Sumner.[1] The screenplay was by Patricia Latham. It was produced by Peter Rogers and distributed by the Children's Film Foundation.
| The Dog and the Diamonds | |
|---|---|
.png) Opening titles | |
| Directed by | Ralph Thomas |
| Written by | Patricia Latham |
| Starring | Kathleen Harrison |
Production company | Peter Rogers Productions |
| Distributed by | Children's Film Foundation |
Release date |
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Running time | 54 mins |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Plot
editA group of children are forbidden to keep pets in their accommodation, so decide to open their own zoo in the gardens of a nearby empty house. They soon discover that the house is the headquarters of a gang of jewel thieves.
Cast
edit- Kathleen Harrison as Mrs Fossett
- George Coulouris as Forbes
- Geoffrey Sumner as Mr Gayford
- Brian Oulton as Mr Plumpton
- Michael Maguire as Jimmy
- Robert Sandford as Peter
- Robert Scroggins as Ginger
- Barbara Brown as Helen
- Molly Osborne as Linda
- Hal Osmond as crook
- Arthur Lane as crook
- Dennis Wyndham as crook
- Boffin as the dog
Reception
editThe Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The film follows the well-tried pattern of children’s films, with children and animals playing the leading roles, supported by adults, good and bad. There is a chase and a well-devised happy ending. Kathleen Harrison plays the owner of a pet-shop in her best Huggett vein; George Coulouris is the ill-tempered caretaker, allowed one moment of tenderness (towards a baby in a pram) but otherwise symbolising the tyrannies of an unbending adult authority. The three crooks are inoffensive villains, fulfilling the familiar but difficult task of supplying dramatic tension without making villainy frightening or crime attractive. Although the fooling is of uneven quality, the film is good light-hearted entertainment."[2]
Kine Weekly wrote: "The leading adult rôles are played by Kathleen Harrison, delightfully amusing as the owner of a pets' stores, and George Coulouris as the caretaker who wages war on pets. The picture, which is full of action and has many good comedy scenes, teaches by inference the love of animals and a sense of civic responsibility. The story is well told, and the fast-moving action provides plenty of excitement, laughs and suspense."[3]
Accolades
editThe film won the "Best Long Entertainment Film for Children from 8 to 11 years" award at the Fifth International Festival of Films for Children at Venice, in August 1953.[2]
References
edit- ^ "The Dog and the Diamonds". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ a b "The Dog and the Diamonds". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 20 (228): 170. 1 January 1953 – via ProQuest.
- ^ "The Dog and the Diamonds". Kine Weekly. 439 (2418): 30. 29 October 1953 – via ProQuest.