The Card [VHS] [1952]

This review is for “Edwin” the bonus in this package.Edwin is a film based on the play by the late John Mortimer. It is offered here as bonus material and a very fine bonus at that!Sir Fennimore Truscott (Alec Guinness) is a retired High Court Judge living with his wife Margaret (Rene Asherson) in a stately mansion somewhere in Suffolk with the apt name of Gallows Corner. (Mortimer was noted for a mild sense of humour.) The couple's long-standing neighbour is Tom Marjoriebanks (Paul Rogers) who has the habit of parking himself at Gallows Corner for a good meal and a drink, but not without making a contribution in the form of kitchen hand. (There is a Gallows Corner in Essex at a junction between the A12 and A127 just east of Romford.)An example of the infernal triangle, the plot runs on the lines that Truscott suspects his one and only child, a son named Edwin, may have been fathered by Marjoriebanks. Truscott at the commencement of the film, sitting up in bed one morning, addresses us (the viewer and jury in this “trial”) in a legalistic manner of a trial in which he seeks to find out the truth of Edwin's fatherly connection.The entire action takes place during the course of a fine day—with all three protagonists present at Gallows Corner—steadily unravelling as Truscott puts forward his thesis. Edwin pays a brief visit to the house around midday (so far as we can gather), but he appears only briefly, and at some distance, standing with his mother.Margaret is a keen gardener both in and out of the conservatory; the gardener, named Cattermole, is talked of very occasionally but never appears in person.This is a well-crafted piece with excellent dialogue meandering here there and everywhere and in a manner, as any playwright knows well, that can sometimes take the initiative away from the creative hand.Likewise, I suspect creative folk will guess the outcome, but it is not for us to leave any clues in that direction!Rene Asherson lived to the age of 99 (1915 – 2014). She took the part of the French Princess to whom Henry V (Laurence Olivier) played for marriage stakes in KHV. A charming and beautiful character with a voice that could be mistaken for that of the actress Mavis Pugh ("You Rang M'lord" etc.).

The Card (The Promoter in America), an adaptation of Arnold Bennett's novel of the same name, is the story of "Denry" Machin rise from a washer woman's son to the wealthy mayor of his potteries town by his audacuty and willingness to use his wits to improve his chances. It shows Alec Quinness at his comic best during his early period. My only complaint about the film is it could have been much longer by including some of the incidents in the novel (for example tricking his mother to move into a better house than the hovel in which she raised him). The film is a spot on treatment of Bennett's work.

A very light hearted Ealing Comedy full of laughs - it always cheers me up despite his improbable run of good fortune.In addition to Alec Guinness the film stars Glynis Johns and Petula Clark.The screen adaption is by Eric Ambler after a novel by Arnold Bennett.There are special features, namely an image gallery, the original theatrical trailer and 'Edwin' a play by John Mortimer (1984) starring Alec Guinness.You're a hard person to please if you don't at least smile during this film - I hope you enjoy it.

I brought this as a present for a very dear friend that I don't get to see much due to travel distances. I have seen it many times over the years and can very highly recommend it. No sex, no violence or bad language in at all.

This is a well made, unfussily directed, gentle comedy with that extra something that means that the very good cast gels right from the beginning. Alec Guinness and Glynis Johns share a real chemistry in their joint scenes, but every character is 'right'. The story is as relevant today as it was when Arnold Bennett wrote it, or when Ronald Neame filmed it; everyone will know people like these. Particularly interesting are the many glimpses of Stoke and Llandudno as they were sixty years ago or more. The film also contains Petula Clark's first screen kiss.

Superb comedy, and great performances by gifted British actors. Academy award winner Alec Guiness truly made the main character (Denry Machin), come to life on screen. Valerie Hobson as "The Countess", such a fine actress. Of course I fell in love with her 50 years ago when I saw her in 'The Drum'. A very pretty and talented Petula Clark. Glynis Johns put in a fine performance.

What a delightful gem. Very witty with a cunning plot which provides Alec Guiness and the marvellous Valerie Hobson, and others, with the opportunity to shine and make mischief galore!A cameo appearnce by Guiness's son, Matthew, is a delight.I thought I'd seen all the Guiness films, but not this one.Great fun!

Bought for my dad who is suffering ill health and is confined to his armchair. He hasn't seen this one yet but it was on a special offer, and it's Alec Guinness - can't go wrong for the price!