hhhhancock

An early David Lean Film and the quintessential view of the typical English lower middle class family. Simply wonderful!

faginsgirl

I really like this film but watched it so many times now I am beginning to feel that I`m in it!

We`re changin` lodggggggggings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

stevie boy

fabulous performance from Robert Newton

byebyebadman

tremendous film

Fellwanderer

Another one of those films every lover of British films should own.

I never tire of watching it.

CaptainWaggett

Fans of strike-breaking will especially appreciate Robert Newton's advice to his son during the 1926 sequence. There are, IMO, much better though less well-known, films about the lower classes at work and play.

Fellwanderer

That's a fair point, though I suspect that such views were pretty common among those who may have felt that they'd "dragged" themselves up a level or two.

Seriously, I'd like to know which films you might suggest , Captain W.

CALF28

Being a great fan of 'This Happy Breed' I also enjoyed 'Salute John Citizen' with Edward Rigby. I'm not sure if it's better but it has a similar(ish) theme. Well worth a watch.

Mark O

I love this Film too!........being in Colour makes all the difference, love the bickering scenes and banter between the characters played by Amy Veness and Alison Leggat

Mark

Harleybloke

I love it bacause some of the panning shots across the back gardens give me an idea of what my Grandfather's London house would've been like.

A very different place to now.

.....You couldn't hear it, if they were shooting at me with howitzers!

Mark O

I may have missed something along the line, but in the Movie is the location of the Family's house ever mentioned?

Clapham and Leyton come to mind, but I recall Kay Walsh's character in a scene when she says she's fed up with her lot, such as traveling by Tube to Work, but the Tube didn't go to Leyton before World War II

Mark

ted

Can never see "This Happy Breed" without wincing. Coming from London's Whitechapel Road, somewhat below the family's lower middle class position, I understood perfectly what Queenie was trying to get away from. A bit like watching The Cruel Sea. If you had ever been in a corvette (and I don't mean the car) (and I assume none of you were) you can hardly help your hair rising. Too damned realistic.

Ted, Ottawa

CaptainWaggett

I'm fairly sure it's Clapham simply because that's where Coward comes from and according to IMDB the outside of the house was filmed there. I don't think it's specified in the script though. Coward repeated his stage performance for a tv version in 1956 - anyone know if it survives?

Like ted I dislike the way Queenie has to be punished for wanting to live above her station, just as the son (Reg?) has to be pressurised into assimilating his father's politics (and punished in a rather more drastic way). Watch Millions Like Us instead.

Azanti

Love this film, it is also a play and currently on the London Fringe if you want to catch it.

hhhhancock

Have been after this film - Salute John Citizen - for some time, any idea how I can get a copy please?