The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss

1936 RomanceDrama 80 minutes Directed by Alfred Zeisler

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About The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss

In London, Ernest Bliss is told by Sir James Aldroyd that he has too much money. Bliss bets Sir James £50,000 that he can live a year on what he earns. He rents an attic at Stepney Green. He fails to sell Alpha stoves for Mr. Masters until he lands a sale that could save the firm. Frances Clayton, the secretary, tells him Masters has also asked her to marry him. Her sister needs a winter in Switzerland. Frances is ready to marry Masters for the money. Bliss asks her to marry him instead.

Cast & crew

More about The Amazing Quest of Ernest Bliss

Alfred Zeisler directed. John L. Balderston adapted E. Phillips Oppenheim's 1919 novel The Curious Quest. It remakes the 1920 film The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss. Otto Heller photographed it. Werner Bochmann wrote the music. United Artists released the American version in 1937. Cary Grant plays Bliss. Mary Brian plays Frances Clayton. The British running time is given as 80 minutes. The U.S. cut, titled The Amazing Adventure and later Romance and Riches, runs 62 minutes. The British Film Institute holds prints of 77 minutes. A copy of the short version is on the Internet Archive as amazing_adventure.

Themes

  • a £50,000 bet against an inheritance
  • a year of ordinary jobs
  • a sister who needs Switzerland
  • Cary Grant
  • Frances Clayton
  • Sir James Aldroyd
  • Alpha stoves
  • Stepney
  • Oppenheim

Making

Zeisler remade the 1920 Oppenheim film in Britain and put Grant in the attic at Stepney.

Look

Otto Heller shot the Stepney attic and the stove-selling rounds.

Music

Werner Bochmann wrote the music.

Preservation

The BFI holds 77-minute prints. Circulating copies are the 62-minute American cut.

Notes

  • The stake is £50,000.
  • Mrs. Heath is the landlady who lets the rent slide.
  • The stove brand he cannot sell is Alpha.
  • Circulating copies are the 62-minute American cut.
  • As a non-U.S. film not under copyright in its home country on January 1, 1996, it was left out of GATT restoration.

Scenes

  • Bliss bets £50,000 and takes a room at Stepney Green.
  • Frances is about to marry Masters so her sister can go to Switzerland.

Influenced by

  • E. Phillips Oppenheim's The Curious Quest (1919)
  • The Amazing Quest of Mr. Ernest Bliss (1920)

Also available

  • Internet Archive (amazing_adventure)