Who Goes There!
Who Goes There! is a 1952 British comedy directed by Anthony Kimmins and based on John Dighton’s play of the same name. It stars Nigel Patrick, Valerie Hobson, George Cole, Peggy Cummins, and A. E. Matthews. The film follows the farcical goings-on of residents in a grace-and-favour house near St James’s Palace.
Plot in brief:
Sir Hubert Cornwall lives there with his grown children, Miles and Alex. When the house is unexpectedly empty, Arthur Crisp, a Queen’s Guard sentry, lets his ex-girlfriend Christina stay while she recovers from an accident. Miles returns early, mistakes Christina for a burglar, and soon falls for her. Alex tries to reunite Christina with Arthur, who has been dismissed from duty and faces a court martial. Sir Hubert ultimately helps by calling Buckingham Palace, and Arthur and Christina are reunited.
Production notes:
The movie was shot at Shepperton Studios with location scenes around the Palace. Sets were designed by Wilfred Shingleton. Some sources credit Alexander Korda as director, but the released credits show Anthony Kimmins. In the U.S., the film was released as The Passionate Sentry, with two uses of the word “Cripes!” removed by censors.
Reception and details:
Released on 10 June 1952, the 85-minute English-language UK film earned £123,542 at the box office. It received mixed reviews in contemporary publications, praised for its pace, cast, and gentle humor, while some critics called it a conventional British farce. A BBC radio version aired on 25 March 1954 as part of Saturday Night Theatre.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:44 (CET).