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    Home»Movies»Movies by Decade»Movies - 1950s
    Movies - 1950s Movies - W 2 Mins Read

    Wonderful Things (1958)

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    This romantic comedy-drama alternates between London and Malta where brothers Carmello Gomez (singing star Frankie Vaughan) and his younger brother, Mario (Jeremy Spenser) fish for their keep in Catalan Bay.

    But times are hard, and they cannot make enough money from fishing so they decide to exploit tourists to the island and pull a fast one on Sir Bertram Pendleton (Wilfrid Hyde-White), the wealthy English owner of a motor cruiser.

    Sir Bertram and his attractive daughter, Anne (Jean Dawnay) forgive them and Sir Bertram reminds them that honesty pays in the long run.

    Carmello – who is engaged to Pepita (Jackie Lane), a fiery local belle – determines to try his luck in London and becomes a waiter at an exclusive restaurant there.

    He meets Sir Bertram and Anna again at his place of work, but the restaurant proprietor fires him for being too familiar with the customers.

    Carmello then gets a job wrestling at a funfair. Meanwhile, back in Malta, Mario has fallen for Pepita.

    Anne Pendleton finds out where Carmello is working and visits him, but he is subsequently robbed of his wrestling winnings and in retaliation knocks out the wrong man. He appears before the magistrate, who is none other than Sir Bertram.

    Later, Mario sells his fishing boat and gives the money to Pepita, saying that Carmello has sent it to her. She uses some of it to travel to London while Carmello is on remand.

    Meanwhile, Anne proposes to him. Mario and Pepita also pair off and the four look forward to happiness in Catalan Bay.

    The tale is far removed from real life, but a popular and versatile cast manages to weave its colourful and cosy improbabilities into engaging escapist entertainment.

    Future comedy legend Ronnie Barker appears in a small uncredited part as a waiter in his big-screen debut. Liz Fraser also has a small uncredited part as a hotdog seller.

    Produced by Anna Neagle and directed by her husband, Herbert Wilcox. This was Vaughan’s second starring role in a Neagle/Wilcox film, following These Dangerous Years (1957).

    Carmello Gomez
    Frankie Vaughan
    Mario Gomez
    Jeremy Spenser
    Pepita
    Jackie Lane
    Sir Bertram Pendleton
    Wilfrid Hyde-White
    Anne Pendleton
    Jean Dawnay
    Harry
    Eddie Byrne
    Poppa
    Harold Kasket
    Codger
    Christopher Rhodes
    Mamma
    Nancy Nevinson
    Butler
    Cyril Chamberlain

    Director
    Herbert Wilcox

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