The importance of happiness : Noël Coward and the Actors' Orphanage

"This is the little known and inspiring true story of how the legendary playwright Noël Coward and his committee of famous actors transformed the brutal and austere Actors' Orphanage (for children of struggling or absent actor parents) into a place of love and laughter. Until that is, World War II arrives and the Blitz. Now the entire orphanage is evacuated across a dangerous Atlantic Ocean to the United States. In New York the children will find a new level of freedom, put on a Broadway show and meet starts such as Charlie Chaplin and Gertrude Lawrence. However as some grow up they will inevitably be called back to Europe and the War. The difficult post-war years will see Noël struggle to make the orphanage solvent and successful once again. There will be more problem children, monstrous staff and glamorous fundraisers before Noël can finally hand over the reins to his young protégé, Richard Attenborough.