Glad Tidings (film)

Glad Tidings is a 1953 British comedy film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Barbara Kelly, Raymond Huntley and Ronald Howard. It was based on the play of the same title by R. F. Delderfield and made at the Nettlefold Studios in Walton-on-Thames. The film's art direction was by John Stoll. The backers Eros Films were pleased enough with the film's success to adapt another Delderfield play as Where There's a Will in 1955.

Plot
A retired RAF officer returns home to his sleepy little rural community with an attractive new American fiancée, to the initial resentment of his children.

Cast

 * Barbara Kelly as Kay Stuart
 * Raymond Huntley as Tom Forester
 * Ronald Howard as Corporal Nicholas Brayne
 * Jean Lodge as Celia Forester
 * Terence Alexander as Flight Lieutenant Spud Cusack
 * Diana Calderwood as Josephine Forester
 * Laurence Payne as Clive Askham
 * Arthur Howard as Mr. Boddington
 * Brian Smith as Derek Forester
 * Yvette Wyatt as Miggs Forester
 * Doris Yorke as Mrs. Boddington
 * Stella Richman as Anna
 * Harry Green as The Golfer
 * John Warren as Club Barman
 * Louis Matto as Waiter
 * Peter Forbes-Robertson as Reception Clerk

Production
The film was made at Nettlefold Studios, Walton-on-Thames, England, and on location. A collection of then-and-now location stills and corresponding contemporary photographs is hosted at reelstreets.com.

Critical reception
TV Guide dismissed the film as a "Plodding domestic trifle", whereas Sky Cinema approved the fact that the piece provided "Raymond Huntley and Barbara Kelly (Bernard Braden's wife) with rare leading roles in a feature film. Huntley gets a chance to break away from his stuffy bureaucrats and he's a pleasure to watch."