The Love Lottery (1954)

An internationally famous movie star (David Niven) owes a huge gambling debt. So when the head (Herbert Lom) of a gambling syndicate suggests he become the prize of a lottery in exchange for the gambling debt, he reluctantly agrees. Directed by Charles Crichton (A FISH CALLED WANDA), you rarely hear this one being discussed when talking about the popular Ealing comedies of the 1950s and with good reason. Its far fetched one joke plot is rather silly and padded out with dream sequences and musical fantasies. Shot in candy coated Technicolor by Douglas Slocombe (RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK), the film benefits from the Italian locations, notably Lake Como. Some of the film works especially its satire of the star system and the hysterical female fans who'll stop at nothing to meet their idol. The possibilities are there for a razor sharp spoof but the screenplay by Harry Kurnitz and Monja Danischewsky doesn't seem interested. With Humphrey Bogart, Peggy Cummins, Anne Vernon, Felix Aylmer and Gordon Jackson.