Alive and Kicking (1959 film)


Alive and Kicking is a 1959 British comedy film directed by Cyril Frankel and starring Sybil Thorndike, Kathleen Harrison, Estelle Winwood and Stanley Holloway with Richard Harris making his film debut. Its plot follows three women who grow dissatisfied with their lives in a retirement home and escape in order to search for fresh enjoyment and adventure. They eventually end up running a successful cottage industry sweater business on a remote island offshore of Ireland,.
In 1964, the film was released in the US, with the film trailer establishing a tie-in to Stanley Holloway's success in My Fair Lady.

Cast

Music by Philip Green
Lyrics by Michael Carr
Liscannon Bay
Music by Philip Green
Lyrics by Michael Carr
Music by Juventino Rosas
Arranged by Philip Green

Music by Euphemia Allen
Music by Philip Green
Lyrics by Michael Carr
"
Traditional
Sung by Sybil Thorndike, Estelle Winwood and Kathleen Harrison in the speedboat
Traditional
Sung by the children

Critical reception

called it a "charming comedy"; while TV Guide rated the film 3/5 stars, writing "this delightfully zany British comedy gets added spark from the three main actresses and the ever-precocious Holloway"; and the Radio Times also gave the film 3/5 stars, calling the three actresses "a joy to behold", and concluding "director Cyril Frankel's engaging piece of Irish whimsy is slight but diverting."