Pink String and Sealing Wax (1946)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Robert Hamer

Writers:

Roland Pertwee (play)
Diana Morgan (screenplay)

Release Date:

2 October 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A drunken, abusive tavern-keeper's adulterous wife uses the backward son of a rigid, puritanical pharmacist who makes his entire family miserable.

Plot Keywords:

Poison | Brighton | Ealing | Femme Fatale | Alcoholism

Cast

Mervyn Johns	...	Edward Sutton
Googie Withers	...	Pearl Bond
Gordon Jackson	...	David Sutton
Jean Ireland	...	Victoria Sutton
Sally Ann Howes	...	Peggy Sutton
Colin Simpson	...	James Sutton
David Walbridge	...	Nicholos Sutton (as David Wallbridge)
Mary Merrall	...	Mrs. Ellen Sutton
John Carol	...	Dan Powell
Catherine Lacey	...	Miss Porter
Garry Marsh	...	Joe Bond
Pauline Letts	...	Louise
Maudie Edwards	...	Mrs Webster
Frederick Piper	...	Dr. Pepper
John Owers	...	Frank, the bartender

Runtime:

89 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S | UK:A | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Ealing Studios

A classical Victorian era pot boiler but lacking sufficient zest.

Excellent acting from the lead players, (especially from Mervyn Johns as the puritanical Victorian pater familias and Googie Withers as the pub landlady and murderess), and a good supporting cast as well mean that this Victorian-era pot boiler set in Brighton could have been something special, given the right direction. Unfortunately, though, it lacks this latter quality and the plot development is disjointed and lacks the necessary twists and thrills to have done the job. What results is a very average, Saturday afternoon matinee thriller, which leaves you thinking of the many ways it could have been improved upon. Perhaps a film studies seminar could use it for this purpose? 6/10.