Born into a prosperous farming family Winifred Holtby was able to
earn a good living writing for journals, newspapers, books and magazines
(including "Time and Tide"). Being diagnosed with Bright's Disease in
1931 she put all her energy into the book that would bring her her
greatest fame "South Riding", a sprawling book about the machinations
of a local council, a subject that Winifred had first hand knowledge of, her
family being involved in local village affairs.
Ralph Richardson and Edna Best make a grand team even though both were seen as British cinema stalwarts. Best had n't been seen since "The Man Who Knew Too Much" a couple of years previously and Richardson was better known for his oddball character roles ("Things to Come") - this was their best feature to date.
As the sweeping titles show the panoramic vista, the characters are introduced stating the council views - grand old Marie Lohr as Alderman Beddows standing for good administration, Ralph Richardson as Councillor Carnes, wanting people to stand on their own two feet, John Clements as the reformer and Edna Best as the new headmistress, feeling children are the future.
Councillor Carne is resigning his place on the council. He is broke and is relying on the sale of his best hunter Trixie to not only send his increasingly unruly daughter to the best school in the county but also to pay the outstanding debt to keep his wife in the mental health facility that she has been consigned to. A hunting accident forces him to send Midge to the local county school where he meets the new headmistress Sarah Burton. Sarah has radical ideas - she sees in Lydia Holly, a girl from "the shacks" area, someone who can do great things if only she has the opportunity and fights to give her a boarding scholarship. She also encourages Lydia to befriend the disruptive Midge, convincing the girl that even though poor she is rich in friendships, family and love while Midge has none of those. It would have been nice to see the friendship develop but after a scene shows them embracing both drop out of the movie.
Meanwhile there is skullduggery afoot - holier than thou Councillor Huggins (Edmund Gwen in another super performance) is being blackmailed by local girl Bessie to the tune of 500 pounds - if he doesn't come across, she'll have to reveal him as the father of her child. So he does a deal with another corrupt councillor Snaith, to buy up cheap land which can then be sold at a profit when it is needed to build a new housing estate for "the shack" people who are now living in old trams and buses. Caught up innocently in the proceedings is the reformer who when he realises what is happening resigns - he also has feelings for Sarah but she is drawn to Carne.
Richardson has his big scene at the end as he denounces both Snaith and Huggin's shifty dealings (Sarah overhears both Bessie and Huggins in the local shop, puts two and two together and is able to bring her evidence to a relieved Carne). Just before the denoument, there is a poignant scene where Sarah heads off Carne in a potential suicide attempt, both Richardson and Best play with great poignancy.
Fourteen year old Glynnis Johns is terrific in her debut role as the hysterical Midge. She dominated all her scenes.
Very Recommended.
Ralph Richardson and Edna Best make a grand team even though both were seen as British cinema stalwarts. Best had n't been seen since "The Man Who Knew Too Much" a couple of years previously and Richardson was better known for his oddball character roles ("Things to Come") - this was their best feature to date.
As the sweeping titles show the panoramic vista, the characters are introduced stating the council views - grand old Marie Lohr as Alderman Beddows standing for good administration, Ralph Richardson as Councillor Carnes, wanting people to stand on their own two feet, John Clements as the reformer and Edna Best as the new headmistress, feeling children are the future.
Councillor Carne is resigning his place on the council. He is broke and is relying on the sale of his best hunter Trixie to not only send his increasingly unruly daughter to the best school in the county but also to pay the outstanding debt to keep his wife in the mental health facility that she has been consigned to. A hunting accident forces him to send Midge to the local county school where he meets the new headmistress Sarah Burton. Sarah has radical ideas - she sees in Lydia Holly, a girl from "the shacks" area, someone who can do great things if only she has the opportunity and fights to give her a boarding scholarship. She also encourages Lydia to befriend the disruptive Midge, convincing the girl that even though poor she is rich in friendships, family and love while Midge has none of those. It would have been nice to see the friendship develop but after a scene shows them embracing both drop out of the movie.
Meanwhile there is skullduggery afoot - holier than thou Councillor Huggins (Edmund Gwen in another super performance) is being blackmailed by local girl Bessie to the tune of 500 pounds - if he doesn't come across, she'll have to reveal him as the father of her child. So he does a deal with another corrupt councillor Snaith, to buy up cheap land which can then be sold at a profit when it is needed to build a new housing estate for "the shack" people who are now living in old trams and buses. Caught up innocently in the proceedings is the reformer who when he realises what is happening resigns - he also has feelings for Sarah but she is drawn to Carne.
Richardson has his big scene at the end as he denounces both Snaith and Huggin's shifty dealings (Sarah overhears both Bessie and Huggins in the local shop, puts two and two together and is able to bring her evidence to a relieved Carne). Just before the denoument, there is a poignant scene where Sarah heads off Carne in a potential suicide attempt, both Richardson and Best play with great poignancy.
Fourteen year old Glynnis Johns is terrific in her debut role as the hysterical Midge. She dominated all her scenes.
Very Recommended.