Help me identify this film from the John Lewis advert?

[BOFster]

It's driving me crazy

Here's a link to the John Lewis advert- take a look at the old movie showing on the television at 1 minute in, please.

Everybody thinks it's from It's A Wonderful Life, the embrace you can see at 3:21 in this clip:

But it really really isn't.

I think in the golden days of the cinema, when almost everybody went several times a week regardless of what was on, you could make any old film and get an audience.

Also, I suspect the studio's thinking went like this:

Minor studio boss: 'Bad news, Al, we've got to nix the film about the family with the pet alligator. The gator's gone rogue and the insurance company is cutting up rough about paying for the cameraman's leg amputation. We've got the crew and the actors standing around on the back lot, whadda we do now?'

Major studio boss: 'Aw, who cares what goes into a B picture! Pal of mine has hundreds of reels of footage of midget racing cars - no, not that kind of midget! - we can get it for a song. Get one of the hacks to go through the script changing the names, crossing out all the scenes with alligators and writing a bit of dialogue about racing. And I want it in the can by tomorrow night!'

Mimsy

Louise, there's only one left in stock- do you think MNers have been stampeding to buy it?

Born to Speed is so obscure, there aren't even any clips on Youtube. That never happens.

I can't find it on any streaming site.

There are 14 new copies for $2.21 on Amazon US I think.

Johnny Sands appeared with some pretty big names - Shirley Temple, Cary Grant and Myrna Loy in The Bachelor And The Bobbysoxer also in 1947 - the film won the Oscar that year.

Sorry got a bit over excited there - I think it's him sitting at the table, not dancing!

Hurrah, an answer. I never got a chance to ask my Dad who considers himself an expert. Now I know the answer I can potentially drive him mad too.

You cruel woman, Best

So plsd it's an actual film

May I say, I lurve Mimsy's 1940s yank accent?

Actually a little disappointed with the result. Really, like, Meh. Had so much more fun speculating with you lovelies!

Shall we all just crowd-fund a time machine and do that 1950s West End jaunt previously proposed?

Hurrah!!

This thread needs to go into Classics, shurely shome mishtake it's not already been moved?

Maybe JL will stick random old film clips into all their adverts from now on- just for us?

Yes, I hope they do move this, so we can keep all the lovely pictures, clips and memories.

Oh, and so I can be remembered for starting something a bit more sophisticated than The Pouffe Of Poo .

Yes, this thread moved to classics please.

How else will John Lewis be able to find us next year when they need help making their latest ad?

The Pouffe of what? Is that what you're famous for BOF? I had no idea.

But, yes, Classics, definitely. We could start a consultancy and drooling gallery

Yep, that was me

My idea for next year's ad is a montage of obscure film clips with a soundtrack of unrelated musical theatre quotes. Slightly niche perhaps...

I'd watch it.

On the actual advert, when the boy and the penguin are on the bus and he has his idea of what to get penguin for Christmas, is it just me or his face is straight from the Joey Tribbiani school of 'smell the fart' acting?

So glad it was from a real film, and not a well known one.

I've only seen the advert once and it made me cry.

Alice

you are spot on

Hurrah , my dad can stop looking through film books now

Hi everyone, we're so glad the mystery has been solved. We're moving the thread to classics (and spending the day googling midget car racing).

Thank you Amy. You're like a little Veronica Lake.