Love this entire discussion! But especially this: ”I rather crave the notion of a night out in that atmosphere: cab to The Aldwych, dressed to the nines, the scent of Je Reviens in the foyer, no plastic cups of warm wine in the auditorium and the guaranteed pleasure of a Well-Made Play.”
Haven't found a way to see it yet where I am, but will keep an eye out for it. Above all, this made me want to see a good play; it 's one of the things I really miss, and you reminded me of how wonderful it is!
I thought I was the only person who knew about this film! So glad that I'm not. I saw it on stage about 12 years ago, with Tony Britton in the Ralph Richardson role. It was a very good production, but no one I spoke to afterwards seemed to have any idea that there was a film...
It is an absolute gem and you describe it perfectly. I watched it a few weeks ago on TV, I think maybe Film4? Although it crops up year round on TPTV. I love Margaret Leighton, I think there is a look of a young Helen Mirren about her. She is just so perfect for the beautiful, brittle but world weary part, one just knows that she can NEVER BE HAPPY. You must look for The Astonished Heart which is a corkingly good film with Celia Johnson as the wife of psychiatrist Noel Coward, very 'heppily' married, until old friend of Celia's Margaret Leighton turns up and totally dazzles poor old Noel. There follows much histrionics and angst until of course there is resolution, of sorts. It's gorgeous.
Thanks June - It does come up on Film4 but I have a feeling I've missed it this year, can't find it on the site... Anyway I shall watch it somewhere, AND The Astonished Heart! Full of my favourites!
This sounds delightful Laura! A cinematic version of FM Mayor's The Rector's Daughter if it had been turned into a tv series (with a Christmas special) - now there's an idea! I haven't seen The Holly and the Ivy but love it already from seeing the movie stills in your post, Margaret Leighton's elegance and Ralph Richardson's random Irish accent. Time for a cinematic re-release.
I don't know this film at all, Laura, so I shall look out for it somehow, somewhere, sometime. It sounds so good from your description. I don't have premium channels on my TV but will certainly look through the Radio Times very closely over the Christmas/New Year period to see if it shows up. Though, as you say, with Christmas rom coms being shown back to back since midsummer, who knows how the scheduling works these days.
One of my favourite Christmas films that has been but isn't often on TV and comes from a different era is Kenneth Branagh's 'In the bleak midwinter' from 1995. (It's apparently known as 'A midwinter's tale' in the USA.) It's a noir (literally) tale written and directed by KB in which he doesn't star in which a community put on a Christmas production of 'Hamlet' to try and save the local Church from property developers. Both sad and funny. We have knocked KB here for his recent Poirot films, but he has done some remarkable things too.
It seems that (in the UK at least) you can download for free 'The holly and the ivy' from Internet Archive. Which you can also do with 'In the bleak midwinter' though the quality isn't brilliant on my rather old laptop.
This sounds perfect…I can also recommend The Bishop’s Wife with David Niven, Loretta Young and Cary Grant. I used a clip from it to get David Niven to preach the sermon at a carol service once!
I haven't seen this in the longest time Laura and have never seen it in stage but wouldn't that be something? Ah Margaret Leighton, you captured her beautifully here. I'm just sitting down to wrap gifts and this would have made the perfect accompaniment. Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Wishing you a joyful festive season ahead!
I first saw this on tv as a teenager in the Seventies and was entranced by it. Perhaps living in Norfolk helped (tv programmes were never set in Norfolk and very few films, and seeing the signpost early in the film with villages just down the road from me made quite an impression). I finally saw it again a few years ago having tracked down a DVD and was surprised by how short it was! I must dig it out and watch it again this Christmas.
Thank you Colin, I so understand about the Norfolk connection (although I grew up in Bucks and no such evocative films were set there…) Hope the film continues to exert a spell.
This is why I keep coming back to Substack - undiscovered treasures to explore, great writing, a reminder of a past that we now miss without tipping into mawkishness… looking forward to watching this one thank you Laura..
This film sounds right up my alley. Thank you Laura!
And this comment also gives me a chance to thank you for so many wonderful posts this year. Thank you for making my corner of substack such a nice place to be. See you (or perhaps 'read you') in the new year!
Thanks to your post last year (I was one of the ‘about three subscribers’!) I managed to record it when it was shown a year ago and save it. So, today, my pre-Christmas treat has been to allow myself to sit and watch it. I love your comments about it, so perceptive in every way and absolutely right.
I cannot understand why it doesn’t receive more attention.
Thank you so much Maura, that’s all very lovely to hear! Totally agree about the film. People who love it REALLY love it but it still doesn’t seem very widely-known. I shall be watching it (again) over the weekend….
I don't know it at all! Celia Johnson and Denholm Elliott - what a treat. Do you know " A Tree Grows in Brooklyn",? I watched it years ago whilst wrapping and loved it.
I don’t know it. Not even the title, but I like the sound of it and will check it out!!! Hope you enjoy Holly/Ivy if you get to see it. Gorgeous acting.
Love this entire discussion! But especially this: ”I rather crave the notion of a night out in that atmosphere: cab to The Aldwych, dressed to the nines, the scent of Je Reviens in the foyer, no plastic cups of warm wine in the auditorium and the guaranteed pleasure of a Well-Made Play.”
Will seek out the film.
Thank you so much Maria! Wouldn't that be the best night out...
I do hope you enjoy the film.
Haven't found a way to see it yet where I am, but will keep an eye out for it. Above all, this made me want to see a good play; it 's one of the things I really miss, and you reminded me of how wonderful it is!
Yes. Still a very special thrill. I saw a couple of good ones this year (plus a couple of absolute SHOCKERS) so am back in the groove with it!
I thought I was the only person who knew about this film! So glad that I'm not. I saw it on stage about 12 years ago, with Tony Britton in the Ralph Richardson role. It was a very good production, but no one I spoke to afterwards seemed to have any idea that there was a film...
How marvellous to see it on stage! Hope to get the chance some time. It's glorious isn't it?!?
Wonderful - a perfect little gem!
It is an absolute gem and you describe it perfectly. I watched it a few weeks ago on TV, I think maybe Film4? Although it crops up year round on TPTV. I love Margaret Leighton, I think there is a look of a young Helen Mirren about her. She is just so perfect for the beautiful, brittle but world weary part, one just knows that she can NEVER BE HAPPY. You must look for The Astonished Heart which is a corkingly good film with Celia Johnson as the wife of psychiatrist Noel Coward, very 'heppily' married, until old friend of Celia's Margaret Leighton turns up and totally dazzles poor old Noel. There follows much histrionics and angst until of course there is resolution, of sorts. It's gorgeous.
Thanks June - It does come up on Film4 but I have a feeling I've missed it this year, can't find it on the site... Anyway I shall watch it somewhere, AND The Astonished Heart! Full of my favourites!
When you’ve seen it do let me know what you think!
This sounds delightful Laura! A cinematic version of FM Mayor's The Rector's Daughter if it had been turned into a tv series (with a Christmas special) - now there's an idea! I haven't seen The Holly and the Ivy but love it already from seeing the movie stills in your post, Margaret Leighton's elegance and Ralph Richardson's random Irish accent. Time for a cinematic re-release.
Thanks Ann! I don't know The Rector's Daughter but very much feel that I should.... The film is so lovely, really hope you enjoy if you get to see it.
I had the same thought about Rector’s daughter!
I don't know this film at all, Laura, so I shall look out for it somehow, somewhere, sometime. It sounds so good from your description. I don't have premium channels on my TV but will certainly look through the Radio Times very closely over the Christmas/New Year period to see if it shows up. Though, as you say, with Christmas rom coms being shown back to back since midsummer, who knows how the scheduling works these days.
One of my favourite Christmas films that has been but isn't often on TV and comes from a different era is Kenneth Branagh's 'In the bleak midwinter' from 1995. (It's apparently known as 'A midwinter's tale' in the USA.) It's a noir (literally) tale written and directed by KB in which he doesn't star in which a community put on a Christmas production of 'Hamlet' to try and save the local Church from property developers. Both sad and funny. We have knocked KB here for his recent Poirot films, but he has done some remarkable things too.
Oh totally Sue, Branagh is an absolute force.... amazing what he gets done! Thanks so much for this recommendation. I really like the sound of it.
I can't find H/Ivy anywhere this yr which is unusual, but it will definitely reappear!
It seems that (in the UK at least) you can download for free 'The holly and the ivy' from Internet Archive. Which you can also do with 'In the bleak midwinter' though the quality isn't brilliant on my rather old laptop.
Thanks Sue, good to know.
This sounds perfect…I can also recommend The Bishop’s Wife with David Niven, Loretta Young and Cary Grant. I used a clip from it to get David Niven to preach the sermon at a carol service once!
I saw it a long time ago on television, and also remember a radio adaptation, also a long time ago.
Yes there is a radio, I bet that’s marvellous but I couldn’t get it…
I'm definitely going to find it! Thank you?
Excellent! I hope you enjoy it…
Thank you, Laura! A beautifully expressed hymn (should it be carol?) to a film that's new to me. I will check it out.
The dogs woke me at 6 so I just watched it… wonderful as always!!!
And thank you Jeffrey for your lovely words.
I haven't seen this in the longest time Laura and have never seen it in stage but wouldn't that be something? Ah Margaret Leighton, you captured her beautifully here. I'm just sitting down to wrap gifts and this would have made the perfect accompaniment. Thank you, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this. Wishing you a joyful festive season ahead!
Thank you so much Nic, and a very happy Christmas to you also!
another marvellous read, thank you
Thank you so much Mark!
I first saw this on tv as a teenager in the Seventies and was entranced by it. Perhaps living in Norfolk helped (tv programmes were never set in Norfolk and very few films, and seeing the signpost early in the film with villages just down the road from me made quite an impression). I finally saw it again a few years ago having tracked down a DVD and was surprised by how short it was! I must dig it out and watch it again this Christmas.
Thank you Colin, I so understand about the Norfolk connection (although I grew up in Bucks and no such evocative films were set there…) Hope the film continues to exert a spell.
This is why I keep coming back to Substack - undiscovered treasures to explore, great writing, a reminder of a past that we now miss without tipping into mawkishness… looking forward to watching this one thank you Laura..
What a gorgeous comment, thank YOU! And enjoy the film, I'm looking forward to it over the weekend...
This film sounds right up my alley. Thank you Laura!
And this comment also gives me a chance to thank you for so many wonderful posts this year. Thank you for making my corner of substack such a nice place to be. See you (or perhaps 'read you') in the new year!
Tash, that is truly lovely and means a lot. Thank you so much. And, as they say, back at you!
This is indeed a very nice place.
Hope you enjoy the film if you get the chance to see it!
Thanks to your post last year (I was one of the ‘about three subscribers’!) I managed to record it when it was shown a year ago and save it. So, today, my pre-Christmas treat has been to allow myself to sit and watch it. I love your comments about it, so perceptive in every way and absolutely right.
I cannot understand why it doesn’t receive more attention.
Thank you so much Maura, that’s all very lovely to hear! Totally agree about the film. People who love it REALLY love it but it still doesn’t seem very widely-known. I shall be watching it (again) over the weekend….
I don't know it at all! Celia Johnson and Denholm Elliott - what a treat. Do you know " A Tree Grows in Brooklyn",? I watched it years ago whilst wrapping and loved it.
I don’t know it. Not even the title, but I like the sound of it and will check it out!!! Hope you enjoy Holly/Ivy if you get to see it. Gorgeous acting.
The novel by Betty Smith is wonderful too. I do hope I can see it too.