Vice Versa

Vice Versa

1h 51m 6.3/10

Overview

Businessman Paul Bultitude is sending his son Dick to a boarding school. While holding a magic stone from India, he wishes that he could be young again. His wish is immediately fulfilled and the two change bodies with each other. Mr Bultitude becomes a school boy who smokes cigars and has a very conservative view on child upbringing, while his son Dick becomes a gentleman who spends his time drinking lemonade and arranging children's parties.

Director

Peter Ustinov

Top Billed Cast

James Robertson Justice

James Robertson Justice

Dr. Grimstone

Roger Livesey

Roger Livesey

Paul Bultitude

Anthony Newley

Anthony Newley

Dick Bultitude

Petula Clark

Petula Clark

Dulcie Grimstone

Kay Walsh

Kay Walsh

Florence 'Fanny' Verlane

David Hutcheson

David Hutcheson

Marmaduke Paradine

Reviews

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

11/12/2022

7/10

Roger Livesey ("Paul") is the wealthy but rather indifferent dad to "Dick" (Anthony Newley). The youngster hates the idea of going back to his boarding school, but his skinflint of a father is having none of it. When "Dick" tries a bit of emotional blackmail, his dad - clutching a mysterious stone from a temple in faraway India finds himself making a wish and now has the mental age of his son. His son, seeing an opportunity for some mischief takes hold of the stone and is soon his father in the body of a boy! What now ensue are an entertaining series of escapades as the youngster goes back to a school under the austere tutelage of "Dr. Grimstone" (James Robertson Justice) and the father tries to fit into a modern adult life of industry and duels - when all he really wants is lemonade and a kiss from "Dulcie" (Petula Clark). Livesey is on good form here as is the increasingly exasperated JRJ and Kay Walsh as the girlfriend of the father who finds herself continually perplexed by these unexplained developments. It is directed by Peter Ustinov and that's quite obvious after a while - it has a haphazard quirkiness and whimsy to it that provides for a slightly grander, more sophisticated, humour as the story moves along. It takes a swipe at the pompous and the shallow, and though it is probably twenty minutes too long, is still quite an enjoyable watch with some amiable characterisations and fun dialogue.

Similar Movies

The Year of the Hare

7.3

The Year of the Hare

1977

It's a Boy Girl Thing

6.5

It's a Boy Girl Thing

2006

Happier Times, Grump

6.4

Happier Times, Grump

2018

The Dressmaker

7.0

The Dressmaker

2015

Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers

7.3

Dragons: Dawn of the Dragon Racers

2014

King Solomon's Mines

5.4

King Solomon's Mines

1985

The Story of Qiu Ju

7.3

The Story of Qiu Ju

1992

Beauty & the Briefcase

5.9

Beauty & the Briefcase

2010

Lilies of the Field

7.2

Lilies of the Field

1963

The Monster Club

5.8

The Monster Club

1981

The Cheetah Girls 2

6.3

The Cheetah Girls 2

2006

Welcome to the Quiet Room

6.7

Welcome to the Quiet Room

2007

Dawn Wind in My Poncho

7.0

Dawn Wind in My Poncho

2017

Give Me Back My Skin

3.7

Give Me Back My Skin

1980

Vice and Virtue

5.4

Vice and Virtue

1963