Isn't Life Wonderful!

This article is about the 1953 UK film. For the 1926 US film, see Isn't Life Wonderful. For other uses, see Isn't Life Wonderful (disambiguation).

Isn't Life Wonderful! is a 1953 British technicolor period comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Cecil Parker, Eileen Herlie and Donald Wolfit.^[4] The film was shot at the Elstree Studios of Associated British with sets designed by the art director Terence Verity. It was released in the United States as Uncle Willie's Bicycle Shop, the title of Brock Williams original 1948 novel based on his boyhood experiences.^[5]

Isn't Life Wonderful!
Directed by	Harold French
Screenplay by	Brock Williams
Based on	Uncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop by Brock Williams[1]
Produced by	Warwick Ward
Starring	Cecil Parker Eileen Herlie Donald Wolfit Peter Asher
Cinematography	Erwin Hillier
Edited by	Edward B. Jarvis
Music by	Philip Green
Production company	Associated British Picture Corporation
Distributed by	Associated British-Pathé
Release date	16 November 1953 (1953-11-16)
Running time	81 minutes[2]
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	£97,710[3]

Plot

In Edwardian England, alcoholic Uncle Willie (Donald Wolfit) is an embarrassment to his family. Head of the household father (Cecil Parker), decides to set Willie up as the manager of a bicycle shop, hoping to impress visiting American heiress Virginia van Stuyden (Dianne Foster). The surprise for everyone comes when Uncle Willie's little shop begins to prosper.

Cast

• Cecil Parker as Father
• Eileen Herlie as Mother
• Donald Wolfit as Uncle Willie
• Peter Asher as Charles
• Eleanor Summerfield as Aunt Kate
• Dianne Foster as Virginia van Stuyden
• Robert Urquhart as Frank
• Russell Waters as Green
• Cecil Trouncer as Dr. Barsmith
• Philip Stainton as Dr. Mason
• Edwin Styles as Bamboula
• Arthur Young as Sir George Probus
• Fabia Drake as Lady Probus
• Alec Finter as Uncle Richard
• Cicely Paget-Bowman as Aunt Theo
• Basil Cunard as Uncle Henry
• Viola Lyel as Aunt Jane
• John Welsh as Uncle James
• Margot Lister as Aunt Betsy
• Henry Hewitt as Cousin Arthur
• George Woodbridge as Cockie
• Wensley Pithey as Sam

Critical reception

TV Guide called it "A pleasant little charmer";^[6] while Sky Cinema wrote, "Director Harold French skilfully milks its situations for all they are worth...No big stars in this film, which makes it an unexpected treat. Based on an equally entertaining novel Uncle Willie and the Bicycle Shop. Donald Wolfit stars as the alcoholic Uncle Willie, Cecil Parker suffers splendidly as Father."^[7]