This is an unusual movie set among London's street performers. It sets the stage well, as the crowds bustle and the earnest but unexceptional performers try earn a few coins.
The main characters are portrayed by the brilliant actors Charles Laughton and Vivien Leigh, both as good as they've ever been.
What I like about their characters, and their performances, is that they aren't the typical iconic characters you see in so many films of that period. Leigh is young, gorgeous, self-involved, and mercurial, but she also shows moments of caring and thoughtfulness. She is like young women I have known; the sort I would have crushed on in my twenties and would keep at arms length today, when I know better.
Laughton is generally a decent guy, yet he is also foolish, moody, and prone to bitterness. Drunkenly ranting on the stairs of his boarding house, he is both pitiable and frightening.
Neither character is entirely good nor bad, but it's the sort of movie where, depending on where you are in your life, you could see either as either. (Looking through the reviews on this site, Leigh's character is either a sadistic monster or an utter delight.)
Unfortunately, after creating a lovely world and two fascinating characters, the writers didn't seem to know quite where to take the story, which ends abruptly with a pat and unconvincing final scene. It wasn't so bad that it ruined the movie for me, but it does feel like the writers just shrugged at each other and said, we've written enough, let's just wrap this up. With a better ending, this could have been a true classic.
The supporting cast is also quite good, with Rex Harrison charming (although it's such a small part that I'm surprised to see some reviewers here raving as much about him as about Leigh and Laughton) and many fine character actors filling inhabiting their roles.
In spite of its imperfections, this is an unjustly obscure gem. If you have the chance to see it, do so.
The main characters are portrayed by the brilliant actors Charles Laughton and Vivien Leigh, both as good as they've ever been.
What I like about their characters, and their performances, is that they aren't the typical iconic characters you see in so many films of that period. Leigh is young, gorgeous, self-involved, and mercurial, but she also shows moments of caring and thoughtfulness. She is like young women I have known; the sort I would have crushed on in my twenties and would keep at arms length today, when I know better.
Laughton is generally a decent guy, yet he is also foolish, moody, and prone to bitterness. Drunkenly ranting on the stairs of his boarding house, he is both pitiable and frightening.
Neither character is entirely good nor bad, but it's the sort of movie where, depending on where you are in your life, you could see either as either. (Looking through the reviews on this site, Leigh's character is either a sadistic monster or an utter delight.)
Unfortunately, after creating a lovely world and two fascinating characters, the writers didn't seem to know quite where to take the story, which ends abruptly with a pat and unconvincing final scene. It wasn't so bad that it ruined the movie for me, but it does feel like the writers just shrugged at each other and said, we've written enough, let's just wrap this up. With a better ending, this could have been a true classic.
The supporting cast is also quite good, with Rex Harrison charming (although it's such a small part that I'm surprised to see some reviewers here raving as much about him as about Leigh and Laughton) and many fine character actors filling inhabiting their roles.
In spite of its imperfections, this is an unjustly obscure gem. If you have the chance to see it, do so.