Thursday, October 08, 2020

Movie review - "No Smoking" (1955) **

 I think in the 1950s it was funnier to have comedies about pills that made you give up smoking before everyone realised how deadly cigareets were. So this hasn't aged well.

It does get points for boldness - it's a social satire, so though why it's low budget and stars off in a small town, they bring in the tobacco industry, the government and a trade war. Chemist Reg Dixon has invented a pill that stops smoking - but although Dixon was a comedy star and the film is kind of a vehicle for him more screen time goes to this American Peter Maryn. 

Lionel Jeffries with hair is the tobacconist who is Dixon's antagonist. The playing of these leads is all polished. Belinda Lee is an industrial espionage spy sent to interrogate Dixon by the tobacco lobby; she's pretty and it's nice to see her but actually it's not a huge role, and she plays it as a Marilyn Monroe imitatoin which was amateurish.

This was made by Tempean, a B picture outfit better known for their horrors. Based on a play co written by Aussie Rex Rienits. Location filming helps. It's not really funny but it is interesting.

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