Escapade (1955 film)

Escapade is a 1955 British comedy drama film directed by Philip Leacock and starring John Mills, Yvonne Mitchell and Alastair Sim. It was based on a long-running West End play of the same name by Roger MacDougall.

The film was produced at the Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey. The film's sets were designed by the art director Bernard Robinson. The location shots of the school were filmed at Epsom College.

Plot summary
A husband and father becomes so preoccupied with a political cause that he neglects his familial responsibilities, leading to his children running away from home.

Cast

 * John Mills as John Hampden
 * Yvonne Mitchell as Mrs. Stella Hampden
 * Alastair Sim as Dr. Skillingworth
 * Jeremy Spenser as L. W. Daventry
 * Andrew Ray as Max Hampden
 * Marie Lohr as Stella Hampden, Senior
 * Colin Gordon as Deeson, Reporter
 * Nick Edmett as Paton
 * Peter Asher as Johnny Hampden
 * Christopher Ridley as Potter
 * Sean Barrett as Warren
 * Colin Freear as Richard 'Young Skilly' Skillingworth
 * Kit Terrington as Smith
 * Mark Dignam as Sykes
 * James Drake as Kirkland
 * Sonia Williams as Miss Betts
 * John Rae as Curly

Critical reception
In The New York Times, Bosley Crowther panned the film, writing, "It is a curiously notional and impractical expostulation against war, obviously well-intended but as humorless as a labored gag". Leonard Maltin, on the other hand, gave it three out of four stars, calling it an "Ambitious, insightful, solidly acted drama about the cynicism and hypocrisy of adults and the idealism of youth." TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, calling it, "...an okay comedy with a message, but the play was better."