![]() ![]() The American Film Institute Catalog claimed that this film was released on 25 February 1937. STORM IN A TEACUP ETYMOLOGY MOVIELeonard Maltin rated this movie three out of four stars and called it "witty social comedy." The book Guide to British Cinema considered this film as one of Victor Saville's "well-crafted, genre films" and "the breezy Rex Harrison–Vivien Leigh social comedy." The book British Film Directors: A Critical Guide called it "a whimsical comedy with anti-fascist undercurrents." The book A Chorus of Raspberries: British Film Comedy 1929–1939 considered this film "one of the best British comedies of the decade." Īnne Edwards, author of the 1977 biography of Vivien Leigh, considered this film a "funny but inconsequential comedy " nevertheless, she called Leigh's performance "witty and warm" for her role that "could not have given much pride of accomplishment." References The number of favourable reviews grew over time. The critic for The Montreal Gazette wrote, "the excellent story is done fullest justice by the directors, Victor Saville and Dalrymple, and by the large and often-brilliant cast." The critic for Boys' Life called it "a riot of fun for the audience." Nugent called it "an engaging miniature" and "a splendid comic brew". Fay)Īt the time of the film's initial release, reviews were favourable. Quentin McPhearson as Baillie Callender (credited as Quinton Macpherson).Bruce as McKellar (credited as Edgar Bruce) A courtroom scene ensues which strongly resembles a "kangaroo trial" until, in view of local support for the defendant (with the villagers humorously barking like dogs) and the budding love affair between the reporter and the provost daughter, the provost gives up, and all is happily resolved. The furious provost rashly sues the "cheeky little rotter from London" for libel. The idealistic young reporter exposes the injustice in the local newspaper before the editors have a chance to suppress the article, and it sparksan indignant protest campaign all over England and Scotland. ![]() The local police are about to put her sheepdog Patsy to death because she cannot pay the back taxes and subsequent fine incurred by her ownership of the dog. He strikes out against the Provost by taking up the cause of a poor woman who sells ice cream from a pushcart, and has dared to protest against the provost's new "dog tax". A free-spirited English reporter (Rex Harrison) is brought from London to work for the local newspaper and soon clashes with the autocrat-while falling in love with his daughter (Vivien Leigh). ![]() Finally, Greek machia comes from Proto-Indo-European *magh, meaning "power," which has also given us "mighty," "machine," "magic," "magus" and "dismay.A Scottish town's powerful provost (mayor) struts and brags about his city "improvements" while the cowed villagers are sullenly forced to put up with him. Batrachos gives us "batrachian," pertaining to a frog or toad and "batrachophagous," a synonym for a previous Word of the Day, "ranivorous." Mus, via Latin, gives us "murine," pertaining to mice Latin musculus "little mouse" gives us "muscle," presumably a reference to the rippling of a powerful forearm. Originally attributed to Homer, it probably dates from the fifth century BC and contains batrachos "frog," mus "mouse," and "machia" fighting. Suggested Usage: Fights over nothing are regrettably common: "The noise from upstairs suggests that the children have started a new batrachomyomachy." And those prepared to fight about nothing are even more common: "I see you already have five e-mails from Gordon, our office batrachomyomachist." Those willing to wait for you to finish uttering today's 7-syllable word may be less common-best rattle if off trippingly.Įtymology: The Greek word means "The Battle of Frogs and Mice." It is the title of a mock-heroic epic poem that recounts a tiny struggle around a small pond using overblown terms that recall the siege of Troy. ![]() Usage: Although its usage seems not to be attested, "batrachomyomachian" is a well-constructed adjective and someone given to batrachomyomachy might well be called a "batrachomyomachist". Pronunciation: ĭefinition: A fight over nothing a storm in a teacup. ![]()
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