The Happy Family (1952)

The blitz and post-War reconstruction reshaped the London landscape. This delightful Ealing-style comedy from Muriel Box tells the story of Mr & Mrs Lord, who refuse to move out of their corner shop on the South Bank, to make way for the building of the Festival Hall.

When the Government decides to build the Festival of Britain exhibition site, everything appears to be going to plan. All except for the fact that the main road and the pedestrian subway into the site are blocked by the House of Lords, a corner shop owned by Henry Lord (Stanley Holloway) and his wife Lillian (Kathleen Harrison). When the Lords decline the compensation offered by government civil servant Mr Filch (Naughton Wayne) they barricade themselves in to avoid the demolition of their beloved home. And when they are joined by an ambitious BBC sports broadcaster the outside world gets to hear a running commentary of the hilarious events from inside the House of Lords .

The Happy Family is an enchanting look at London life amidst the bomb sites and changing landscape of the 1950s.