I always enjoy British films circa 1940s directed in the "Cholomdley-Warner" mold (Harry Enfield).This film reminded me of "Quartet, Trio & Encore", three short films based on stories by William Somerset Maugham."Bond Street" (1948), apart from the named obvious stars, interestingly has Ian Carmichael in a debut walk-on non speaking extra role, working in a high class fashion house in the premier shopping district of west London.
One scene in one of the three short films brought a tear to my eye.Hard working seamstress, Kathleen Harrison (in one of her typical working class roles), wants to have an hour off work to visit her very ill daughter in hospital but finds she cannot as a rich, haughty lady customer wants her dress ready that evening for an important engagement.The manageress tells Kathleen she will have to stay and finish the dress first so missing the hospital appointment.In a fit of pique Kathleen purposely then rips the dress.The audience sympathy however switches to the "haughty lady" when she informs Kathleen her important engagement is in fact an emotional reunion to see her son blinded at Arnhem (1944).When she learns about Kathleen's problems she becomes very sympathetic and takes her for a champagne drink and they become friends.The girls in the work room rally round Kathleen so she can make her hospital appointment to see her daughter.Kathleen also has good news once she arrives there and it all ends happily for her.
There are two other watchable films in this compilation DVD, one with Derek Farr and Jean Kent but I found the story line rather far fetched and it ended too suddenly.I consider my grading of 6/10 fair.
One scene in one of the three short films brought a tear to my eye.Hard working seamstress, Kathleen Harrison (in one of her typical working class roles), wants to have an hour off work to visit her very ill daughter in hospital but finds she cannot as a rich, haughty lady customer wants her dress ready that evening for an important engagement.The manageress tells Kathleen she will have to stay and finish the dress first so missing the hospital appointment.In a fit of pique Kathleen purposely then rips the dress.The audience sympathy however switches to the "haughty lady" when she informs Kathleen her important engagement is in fact an emotional reunion to see her son blinded at Arnhem (1944).When she learns about Kathleen's problems she becomes very sympathetic and takes her for a champagne drink and they become friends.The girls in the work room rally round Kathleen so she can make her hospital appointment to see her daughter.Kathleen also has good news once she arrives there and it all ends happily for her.
There are two other watchable films in this compilation DVD, one with Derek Farr and Jean Kent but I found the story line rather far fetched and it ended too suddenly.I consider my grading of 6/10 fair.