{{short description|1930 film}} {{italic title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Use British English|date=May 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Lord Richard in the Pantry | image = Lord_Richard_in_the_Pantry_film_Theatrical_release_poster_(1930).jpg | caption = Trade Show advertisement | director = Walter Forde | based_on = Play by {{Plain list| *Sydney Blow *Douglas Hoare }} | producer = | writer = {{Plain list| * H. Fowler Mear * Sidney Gilliat }} | narrator = | starring = {{Plain list| * Richard Cooper * Dorothy Seacombe * Marjorie Hume }} | music = | cinematography = | editing = | studio = Julius Hagen Productions | distributor = | released = {{Film date|1930}} | runtime = | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = $85,000<ref name="eng">{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|url=https://archive.org/details/variety100-1930-09/page/n208/mode/1up?q=%22grossed+around%22|title=English Making Money|page=57|date=17 September 1930}}</ref> | gross = $300,000<ref name="eng"/> }} '''''Lord Richard in the Pantry ''''' is a lost 1930 British comedy film directed by Walter Forde and starring Richard Cooper, Dorothy Seacombe and Marjorie Hume.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Lord Richard in the Pantry |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150042681 |access-date=17 February 2026 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/63446 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118012807/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/63446 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 January 2009 |title=Lord Richard in the Pantry (1930) |publisher=British Film Institute}}</ref> It was written by H. Fowler Mear and Sidney Gilliat based on the 1919 play by Sydney Blow and Douglas Hoare<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lord Richard in the Pantry |url=https://theatricalia.com/play/7d6/lord-richard-in-the-pantry |access-date=17 February 2026 |website=Theatricalia.com}}</ref><ref name=":0" />, itself adapted from the 1911 novel by Maurice Nicoll (as Martin Swayne).

== Preservation status == The British Film Institute has classed ''Lord Richard in the Pantry'' as a lost film,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Missing Believed Lost: The Great British Film Search |publisher=British Film Institute |year=1992 |isbn=0851703062 |editor-last=Eyles |editor-first=Allen |pages=30 |chapter=Lord Richard in the Pantry |editor-last2=Meeker |editor-first2=David}}</ref> included on its "75 Most Wanted" list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BFI Most Wanted |url=http://old.bfi.org.uk/nationalarchive/news/mostwanted/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120802224720/http://old.bfi.org.uk/nationalarchive/news/mostwanted/ |archive-date=2 August 2012 |website=BFI}}</ref> The BFI National Archive holds a collection of stills but no film or video materials.<ref name="BFIsearch" />

==Plot summary== Lord Richard Sandridge has fallen on hard times, and is obliged to rent out his Berkeley Square mansion to Sylvia Garland, an attractive widow. In disguise, he takes a job as her butler, and she falls in love with him.

==Cast== * Richard Cooper as Lord Richard Sandridge * Dorothy Seacombe as Sylvia Garland * Marjorie Hume as Lady Violet Elliott * Leo Sheffield as Carter * Frederick Volpe as Sir Charles Bundleman * Barbara Gott as Cook * Alexander Field as Sam * Viola Lyel as Evelyn Lovejoy * Gladys Hamer as Gladys

==Reception== ''Film Weekly'' wrote: "You will be amused by ''Lord Richard in the Pantry'' a well turned-out and very effective comedy. Walter Forde needs no introduction as a director, and here he proves that he can be just as fanny in handling another comedian as in producing himself."<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|date=28 February 1931|title=Lord Richard in the Pantry|id={{ProQuest|1705105904}}|magazine=Film Weekly|volume=5|issue=124|pages=29-30. }}</ref>

''The Daily Film Renter'' wrote: "Uproarious comedy which will draw big money to the box office. Masterly adaptation of stage success, excellently acted by Richard Cooper and a fine cast, and directed by Walter Forde.&nbsp;... The cast has been chosen with great skill, so that each individual part adds its quota of laughs to one of the most happy efforts that ever came out of a British studio. Richard Cooper, of course, as Lord Richard, easily walks off with the giant's share of honours.&nbsp;... There seems to be no question at all but that the picture will be a winner with the public."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=25 July 1930|title=Lord Richard in the Pantry|id={{ProQuest|3130672930}}|magazine=The Daily Film Renter|volume=|issue=1081|pages=6}}</ref>

''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "A well-acted farce of good quality, adapted from the stage success, which takes some little time to warm up, but once it gets going it is crisp and even, and leads to a succession of laughable situations. Richard Cooper is excellent in the leading role and is one of the main contributors to the picture's success.&nbsp;... Walter Forde, the producer, has been a little laboured in his treatment of the opening scenes, and it is some time before the plot is really clear, but once the introductory episodes are over, the farce unfolds with an easy sweep."<ref>{{Cite journal|date=31 July 1930|title=Lord Richard in the Pantry|id={{ProQuest|2320392477}}|magazine=Kine Weekly|volume=161|issue=1215|pages=30}}</ref>

==See also== *List of lost films

==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120803092457/http://old.bfi.org.uk/nationalarchive/news/mostwanted/lord-richard-in-the-pantry.html BFI 75 Most Wanted entry], with extensive notes *{{IMDb title|0021091}}

{{Walter Forde}} {{Launder and Gilliat}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord Richard in the Pantry}} Category:1930 films Category:1930 British films Category:1930 comedy films Category:1930 English-language films Category:1930 lost films Category:British black-and-white films Category:English-language comedy films Category:Films directed by Walter Forde Category:Lost British comedy films