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Vote for Huggett
Vote for Huggett
	British 1-sheet poster
Directed by	Ken Annakin
Written by	Mabel Constanduros; Denis Constanduros; Allan MacKinnon
Produced by	Betty E. Box
Starring	Jack Warner; Kathleen Harrison; Susan Shaw; Petula Clark
Cinematography	Reginald H. Wyer
Edited by	Gordon Hales
Music by	Antony Hopkins
Production; company	Gainsborough Pictures
Distributed by	General Film Distributors (UK)
Release date	February 1949;
Running time	84 mins
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Box office	£143,000 (by 1953)

Vote for Huggett is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark.^[2] It was written by Mabel Constanduros, Denis Constanduros and Allan MacKinnon. In this, the third in the series of films about the Huggetts after Holiday Camp (1947) and Here Come the Huggetts (1948), Warner reprises his role as Joe Huggett, the head of a London family in the post-war years who decides to run as a candidate in the municipal election. It was followed by The Huggetts Abroad (1949).^[3]

Plot

After writing a letter to the local newspaper, calling for the construction of a pleasure garden for a new war memorial, Joe Huggett is overwhelmed by the response from the public. However, his call is awkward for a corrupt local councillor who has plans of his own for the space from which his business can profit. Other people see opportunities of their own in supporting Huggett's plan and he is persuaded to stand for election as a local councillor. In her efforts to help his campaign, Pet gets rather too enthusiastic. Meanwhile, Susan's love life gets complicated when her boyfriend Peter proposes marriage and then finds he has competition.

Cast

Jack Warner as Joe Huggett, Father
Kathleen Harrison as Ethel Huggett, Mother
Susan Shaw as Susan Huggett
Petula Clark as Pet Huggett
David Tomlinson as Harold Hinchley
Diana Dors as Diana Gowan
Peter Hammond as Peter Hawtrey
Amy Veness as Grandma Huggett
Hubert Gregg as Maurice Lever
John Blythe as Gowan
Anthony Newley as Dudley
Charles Victor as Mr Hall
Adrianne Allen as Mrs Hall
Frederick Piper as Bentley
Eliot Makeham as Christie
Clive Morton as Campbell, Huggett's boss
Norman Shelley as Wilson
Lyn Evans as Police Sergeant Pike
Hal Osmond as fishmonger
Elizabeth Hunt as Mrs Lever
Ferdy Mayne as Waiter
Nellie Bowman as eccentric old lady
Empsie Bowman as eccentric old lady
Isa Bowman as eccentric old lady

Production

Ken Annakin was reluctant to make the Huggett films, wanting to work on more ambitious material, but did it as a favour to Sydney Box, head of Gainsborough. However, he enjoyed working with the cast.^[4]

Critical reception

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote, "the film is well up to the standard set by the first in the series, and relies for its appeal on its homely humour and fine characterisations by Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison as Joe and Ethel Huggett, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark as their daughters and Diana Dors as niece Diana. Strong support is rendered by the remainder of the cast."^[5]

TV Guide described Vote for Huggett as "one of three films in the rather dismal 'Huggett Family' series".^[6]

The Radio Times praised Jack Warner and Kathleen Harrison, "wonderful as mum and dad and yes, that's a young Diana Dors as the troublesome niece".^[7]

In British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Standard Huggett shenanigans, quite entertaining."^[8]

References

^ Andrew Spicer, Sydney Box Manchester Uni Press 2006 p 211
^ "Vote for Huggett". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
^ "FAMILY LIFE SERIES by British Producers". The Mercury. Vol. CLXX, no. 24, 665. Tasmania, Australia. 31 December 1949. p. 8. Retrieved 12 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
^ Annakin, Ken (2001). So you wanna be a director?. Tomahawk Press. pp. 40–41.
^ "Vote for Huggett". petulaclark.net.
^ "Vote For Huggett". TVGuide. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015.
^ Baxter, Brian. "Vote for Huggett". RadioTimes. Archived from the original on 24 June 2015.
^ Quinlan, David (1984). British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd. p. 258. ISBN 0-7134-1874-5.