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Better Late Than Never (1983 film)

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Better Late Than Never
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBryan Forbes
Written byBryan Forbes
Story byGwen Davis
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyClaude Lecomte
Edited byPhillip Shaw
Music byHenry Mancini
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • 15 April 1983 (1983-04-15)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$24,164

Better Late Than Never is a 1983 British comedy film directed by Bryan Forbes and starring David Niven, Art Carney and Maggie Smith. The soundtrack features songs by Henry Mancini and Noël Coward.[1]

Plot

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Nick (Niven) is the supposed grandfather of 10-year-old Bridget (Partridge), who stands to inherit a sizeable fortune. Charley (Carney) shows up and claims that he is the genuine grandpa. Both men once slept with Bridget's grandmother, and she was never certain which of the two produced her child. Neither Nick nor Charley are good prospects, so Bridget must choose from the lesser of two evils.

Principal cast

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Actor Role
David Niven Nick Hartland
Art Carney Charley Dunbar
Maggie Smith Miss Anderson
Catherine Hicks Sable
Lionel Jeffries Bertie
Melissa Prophet Marlene
Kimberley Partridge Bridget
Jean-Pierre Castaldi Doctor

Production

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Forbes originally offered Carney's role to William Holden who declined because the fee offered was too small. Forbes wrote in 1992 that if Holden had made the film he "might have been alive today."[2]

References

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  1. ^ Better Late Than Never (1982) – Soundtracks
  2. ^ Bryan Forbes, A Divided Life, Mandarin, 1993 p. 17
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