Genevieve (1953)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Henry Cornelius

Writer:

William Rose (story)

Release Date:

15 February 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

It ought to be illegal to let "Genevieve" on the streets!

Plot:

It's time for the annual London to Brighton antique car rally, and Alan McKim and Ambrose Claverhouse...

Plot Keywords:

Car | Automobile Racing | Character Name In Title

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Dinah Sheridan	...	Wendy McKim
John Gregson	...	Alan McKim
Kay Kendall	...	Rosalind Peters
Kenneth More	...	Ambrose Claverhouse
Geoffrey Keen	...	Policeman
Reginald Beckwith	...	J. C. Callahan
Arthur Wontner	...	Old Gentleman
Joyce Grenfell	...	Hotel proprietress
Leslie Mitchell	...	Himself - Newsreel Commentator

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

UK:U | Australia:G | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl | USA:Approved (PCA #16715, General Audience)

Filming Locations:

Anson Walk, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company:

J. Arthur Rank Organisation

Trivia:

According to Dinah Sheridan interviewed in 'Sixty Voices' edited by Brian McFarlane and published by the BFI, in addition to Claire Bloom, Guy Middleton was wanted for the Kenneth More part and Dirk Bogarde for the 'John Gregson' (I) role. She added 'I can't remember who they wanted instead of Kay Kendall'.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the children drop ice-cream on the street crossing, they attempt to pick it up, but some of it has turned to liquid and then a few moments later, when they get off the road, there is no trace of any ice-cream left on the road.

Quotes:

Rosalind Peters: Ambrose only seems to think about two things. That silly old car - and the other thing.
Wendy McKim: What other thing? Oh. My husband only thinks about the car.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Joyce Grenfell 1910-1979 (1980) (TV)

Famous Five

Some movies are timeless. DVD review.

In old cars two couples (Gregson and Sheridan, More and Kendall) travel to Brighton, and then race back to London.

Timeless movie that looks just as good fifty years later. What contemporary has such class? Featuring four outstanding performances, great cars, a fabulous trumpet scene, good location photography, and a harmonica great score. There's a great ending too where you don't find out the winner of the race until the very end. On the DVD there's an extra naming the actual locations used in the movie. That's a good idea and should be done with other movies.

Genevieve is a classic comedy.