Here are seven reasons why "Sidewalks of London" (1938) is an excellent film: (1) great acting by the legendary film stars Vivien Leigh, Charles Laughton and Rex Harrison (2) good story contrasting the street buskers with theatre stars (3) location filming of London's theatre district (4) interesting portrayal of buskers (5) beautiful black and white cinematography (6) historical importance (7) excellent music score. The story involves themes of love, social class and ambition. Vivien Leigh is charming as a busker.
The movie was filmed on location at St. Martin's Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Cambridge Circus and Piccadilly Circus. ('Circus' refers to a round space at a street intersection.)
"Sidewalks of London" (aka "St. Martin's Lane") shows the interesting subculture of the buskers, who are singers, musicians and dancers that perform on the streets. The actual busker group "The Luna Boys" are in some scenes.
The film begins with a night scene of the theatre district. Neon signs glitter in the darkness. A pretty female busker sings "London Love Song" on the street. Charles Staggers (Charles Laughton) is a poetry-reciting busker who sees Liberty (Vivien Leigh) stealing a gold cigarette case. Liberty was raised in an orphanage, and now survives as a pickpocket.
Charles follows Liberty to a vacant house. In a beautiful scene, Liberty dances in the moonlight shining on the floor, to the music "Vivien's Waltz." Charles sees Liberty dancing and recognizes her talent.
Charles lives in a garret under the roof of a rundown Victorian apartment, and Liberty moves into one of the rooms. There are some nice scenes of the everyday life of the buskers. A cute black-and-white stray cat appears at the window of Charles' garret, which Charles takes in. Charles mends his clothes on his sewing machine. Liberty, who is 19 years old, bakes Charles a birthday cake, and gives him a party for his 40th birthday.
Charles, Liberty and some busker friends create a performance troupe. They sing, dance and play the harmonica in front of the Holborn Empire Theatre. Liberty is charming, dancing in her vaudeville costume of top hat, vest, and striped trousers.
Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison), a successful song writer, sees Liberty dancing and notices her ambition. He becomes her career mentor and her lover.
Liberty's career flourishes, and she gets the lead in an extravagant 1930s musical, titled "Straw Hat in the Rain." There are many backstage scenes of rehearsals. Liberty becomes a famous musical star, surrounded by fans requesting autographs.
One theme in the film is love. Charles is in love with Liberty, but his feelings are unrequited. Liberty has sentimental feelings of friendship toward Charles. In a poignant scene, Liberty arranges a theatre audition for Charles, but he realizes that he belongs with the lively,free-spirited buskers.
Another theme is social class. The wealthy theatre stars and patrons contrast with the street buskers. Charles' small garret contrasts with Harley Prentiss' posh Art Deco penthouse. His Art Deco apartment has mirrored walls, white furniture, glass block windows, and a magnificent view of the city.
Liberty and Charles now live in different worlds. Liberty lives in the glittering inside world of the theatre, and Charles lives in the outside world of the street buskers. The ending is bittersweet.
The performances of Leigh, Laughton and Harrison are superb. Liberty is ambitious and temperamental, yet also charming and sentimental. Charles is a boyish, boisterous man with a lot of heart. Harrison is excellent as the suave and sophisticated theatre insider.
The black and white cinematography is excellent. A sweeping camera shot shows the impressive London cityscape with St. Paul's Cathedral, immediately followed by a camera shot of the crooked chimney pipes on Charles' roof.
The night scenes are beautifully filmed, with high contrast between light and dark. Liberty's luminous face contrasts with the dark night background. The theatre lights glitter in the evening.
Vivien Leigh is always beautiful in her 1930s fashions. As a pickpocket, she wears a black beret, a man's tie, and a narrow skirt. After she becomes a star, she wears a beautiful white gown with a black hat and long black gloves.
This is a historically important film, because it shows the theatre district in 1938, before it was severely damaged in 1940-41, during World War II. The Holborn Empire Theatre, shown in the film, was destroyed in the Blitz. (See my posting on the message board for more on this topic.)
"Sidewalks of London" (1938) deserves a DVD with high quality digital remastering, and extras about London's theatre district, the buskers, and the great actors in the film. Highly recommended.
The movie was filmed on location at St. Martin's Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Cambridge Circus and Piccadilly Circus. ('Circus' refers to a round space at a street intersection.)
"Sidewalks of London" (aka "St. Martin's Lane") shows the interesting subculture of the buskers, who are singers, musicians and dancers that perform on the streets. The actual busker group "The Luna Boys" are in some scenes.
The film begins with a night scene of the theatre district. Neon signs glitter in the darkness. A pretty female busker sings "London Love Song" on the street. Charles Staggers (Charles Laughton) is a poetry-reciting busker who sees Liberty (Vivien Leigh) stealing a gold cigarette case. Liberty was raised in an orphanage, and now survives as a pickpocket.
Charles follows Liberty to a vacant house. In a beautiful scene, Liberty dances in the moonlight shining on the floor, to the music "Vivien's Waltz." Charles sees Liberty dancing and recognizes her talent.
Charles lives in a garret under the roof of a rundown Victorian apartment, and Liberty moves into one of the rooms. There are some nice scenes of the everyday life of the buskers. A cute black-and-white stray cat appears at the window of Charles' garret, which Charles takes in. Charles mends his clothes on his sewing machine. Liberty, who is 19 years old, bakes Charles a birthday cake, and gives him a party for his 40th birthday.
Charles, Liberty and some busker friends create a performance troupe. They sing, dance and play the harmonica in front of the Holborn Empire Theatre. Liberty is charming, dancing in her vaudeville costume of top hat, vest, and striped trousers.
Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison), a successful song writer, sees Liberty dancing and notices her ambition. He becomes her career mentor and her lover.
Liberty's career flourishes, and she gets the lead in an extravagant 1930s musical, titled "Straw Hat in the Rain." There are many backstage scenes of rehearsals. Liberty becomes a famous musical star, surrounded by fans requesting autographs.
One theme in the film is love. Charles is in love with Liberty, but his feelings are unrequited. Liberty has sentimental feelings of friendship toward Charles. In a poignant scene, Liberty arranges a theatre audition for Charles, but he realizes that he belongs with the lively,free-spirited buskers.
Another theme is social class. The wealthy theatre stars and patrons contrast with the street buskers. Charles' small garret contrasts with Harley Prentiss' posh Art Deco penthouse. His Art Deco apartment has mirrored walls, white furniture, glass block windows, and a magnificent view of the city.
Liberty and Charles now live in different worlds. Liberty lives in the glittering inside world of the theatre, and Charles lives in the outside world of the street buskers. The ending is bittersweet.
The performances of Leigh, Laughton and Harrison are superb. Liberty is ambitious and temperamental, yet also charming and sentimental. Charles is a boyish, boisterous man with a lot of heart. Harrison is excellent as the suave and sophisticated theatre insider.
The black and white cinematography is excellent. A sweeping camera shot shows the impressive London cityscape with St. Paul's Cathedral, immediately followed by a camera shot of the crooked chimney pipes on Charles' roof.
The night scenes are beautifully filmed, with high contrast between light and dark. Liberty's luminous face contrasts with the dark night background. The theatre lights glitter in the evening.
Vivien Leigh is always beautiful in her 1930s fashions. As a pickpocket, she wears a black beret, a man's tie, and a narrow skirt. After she becomes a star, she wears a beautiful white gown with a black hat and long black gloves.
This is a historically important film, because it shows the theatre district in 1938, before it was severely damaged in 1940-41, during World War II. The Holborn Empire Theatre, shown in the film, was destroyed in the Blitz. (See my posting on the message board for more on this topic.)
"Sidewalks of London" (1938) deserves a DVD with high quality digital remastering, and extras about London's theatre district, the buskers, and the great actors in the film. Highly recommended.