Fate Takes a Hand is a 1961 British anthology drama film directed by Max Varnel and starring Ronald Howard and Christina Gregg.[1] It was written by Brian Clemens and produced by The Danzigers.

Fate Takes a Hand
Australian 1-sheet poster
Directed byMax Varnel
Written byBrian Clemens
Produced byThe Danzigers
Starring
CinematographyJimmy Wilson
Edited bySpencer Reeve
Production
company
Danziger Productions Ltd.
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date
  • February 1962 (1962-02) (UK)
Running time
72 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Plot

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The recovery of a post bag stolen in a robbery fifteen years earlier has varying consequences for the lives of five of the recipients of the letters when the Post Office decides that the post should be delivered. Several lives are changed, as witnessed by a newspaper reporter and a Post Office security guard who follow up on several of the letters.

Cast

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Critical reception

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The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "Extravagantly unlikely omnibus film made up of five widely assorted vignettes with twist endings. The script is pat and the production values unremarkable, but the blend of comedy, drama and sentiment is bearable in an ingenuous kind of way."[2]

AllMovie called it "a throwback to the British "portmanteau" films of the 1950s."[3]

TV Guide gave the film two out of four stars, and writes that "the effect of the late letters' delivery to the recipients makes for five delightful little tales. Good performances all the way around."[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Fate Takes a Hand". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Fate Takes a Hand". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 29 (336): 52. 1 January 1962 – via ProQuest.
  3. ^ "Fate Takes a Hand (1961) - Max Varnel | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie.
  4. ^ "Fate Takes A Hand | TV Guide". TVGuide.com.
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