The Chiltern Hundreds. Image shows from L to R: June Farrell (Helen Backlin), Tony, Viscount Pym (David Tomlinson). Copyright: Two Cities Films

Key details

Genre
Film
Released
1949
Creator
William Douglas Home
Stars
Cecil Parker, A.E. Matthews, David Tomlinson, Lana Morris, Marjorie Fielding, Tom Macaulay, Joyce Carey, Helen Backlin and more
Writers
William Douglas Home and Patrick Kirwan
Director
John Paddy Carstairs
Producers
George H. Brown and Earl St. John
Company

Young Viscount Tony Pym wangles National Service leave on the pretext of standing as the Conservative candidate for a Parliamentary seat, East Milton, held by his family for generations.

The request, however, is a ruse to enable Pym to get home and marry his wealthy American fiancée, June Farrell, whilst she's still in England; but his master-plan backfires when he's swept into the election campaign for real! Beaten by Labour Party candidate Mr Cleghorn in a landslide election victory for the party, Tony's dejected by his defeat - until Cleghorn is elevated to the Lords, triggering a by-election.

In an attempt to save face and find means of employment to impress June, Pym is convinced by Cleghorn to stand again: this time as a socialist! Tony's father, Lord Lister is ambivalent about the entire affair, muttering that it's only 5 years before the next election anyway. June meanwhile is aghast at her fiancé's decision, whilst charming new parlour maid Bessie is delighted she can now vote for her employer.

For the family's long-serving, loyal and true-blue butler Beecham, however, it all proves too much to handle...

Additional details

UK certificate
U
Duration
84 minutes
UK release
September 1949
Distributors

General Film Distributors

Production
Studio
Camera set-up
Single camera
Picture
Black and white

Website links

Broadcast details

Most recent repeats
  • Sunday 13th November 2022 at 6:40am on TPTV
  • Sunday 1st May 2022 at 7:55am on TPTV
  • Wednesday 19th January 2022 at 12:20pm on TPTV

Recording details

  • Denham Studios

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