| The Butler's Dilemma | |
| Director: | Leslie S. Hiscott |
| Music: | John Blore Borelli (as John Blore) |
| Cinematography: | James Wilson |
| Editing: | Erwin Reiner |
| Studio: | Shaftesbury Films |
| Distributor: | Anglo-American Film Corporation |
| Runtime: | 83 minutes |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
| Language: | English |
The Butler's Dilemma is a 1943 black-and-white British comedy film directed by Leslie S. Hiscott and starring Richard Hearne, Ronald Shiner as Ernie, Ian Fleming, Francis L. Sullivan, Judy Kelly and Hermione Gingold.[1] [2] It was produced by Elisabeth Hiscott and Graham Cutts for Shaftesbury Films, and filmed at British National Studios.[2]
A group of friends undertakes a number of deceptions in order to stage an illicit gambling party. Wimpish Rodney Playfair is persuaded, by a promise to erase his gambling debts, to impersonate an old manservant named Chapman for a few weeks in order to unwittingly provide an alibi for an accomplished thief.
The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "At least one viewer found it difficult to make head or tail of the story at all, even with the wide licence extended to farce, and came away with the conviction that he had seen one of the silliest films ever made."[3]
Kine Weekly wrote: "Richard Hearne has some excellent chances to Indulge his own particular brand of acrobatic humour, Judy Kelly sings, Hermione Gingold puts over the sophisticated brand of wisecracking that has made her famous."[4]
TV Guide gave the film two out of five stars, calling it, "Terribly tepid."[5]