Pink String and Sealing Wax [DVD]

OH YES!! I'd waited years for this to come out on Video and it didn't, and then DVD, now it's finally happened, and I still can't believe it!

One of Googie Withers' greatest movies (I contacted Ms. Withers about this movie some years ago and she was kind enough to reply from Australia) Googie made many great films during this period of her career, and was one of Britain's biggest film stars, but no part had as many close-up shots as this which are always so very difficult to do, and very demanding.

Pearl (Withers) is married to Publican Joe Bond who mistreats her. Having hardened her own persona to become accustomed to this she takes advantage of an impressionable young youth (Gordon Jackson) to forge her way into 'disposing' of her unwanted husband. But taking advantage of such an innocent does not come without its own just rewards, for Pearl is in love with a man who does not love her; a man who goes on to flaunt his 'other' woman under her very nose.

There's also the story of the family of the young man played by Gordon Jackson in all this, and the head of that household is Mervyn Johns. His wife (played by the talented actress Mary Merall) submits to his rule of authority - as does the rest of the family - unwillingly.

'...you're going to do horrible things to those darling little Guinea Pigs...' (I just loved Sally Ann Howes in this) is just one of the memorable and moving lines uttered in this marvellous script! And there's some real gems for scenes - like the one as Mervyn Johns and Mary Merall as man and wife climb the stairs to bed, whilst discussing the relationship they do not appear to have with their children - and why... Some wonderful dialogue.

Mervyn Johns is terrifying as the strict unsympathetic husband and father, and also being the local 'Hang Man' is not so far removed from his occupations! Catherine Lacey is excellent as the Pub 'regular' who witnesses all as a mere 'spectator' and 'stirs' the trouble accordingly!

This is most certainly one of the greatest films of the 1940s - a true classic, and worth its weight in gold! Indeed, a film has got to be good when a Scottish accent (Gordon Jackson's) can be over-looked within an English family - it simply does not matter...

There's also a brief but notable appearance of Amy Dalby (the original old Miss Abigail from 'The Haunting' 1963') who amazingly, though she is the first character to appear in the movie - goes unjustly unaccredited.

One of my favourite movies of all time!

There's nothing like coming out of a cinema after thoroughly enjoying what
you've just seen on the screen. Here's a classic case of that feeling.
It was the period when Ealing Studios was at the peak of its output.
This movie was superb in all departments...a good storyline,which though familiar,
has rarely been bettered,beautifully cast...a touching performance by Gordon
Jackson,a great femme fatale in Googie Withers,plus the always sterling work
by character actor,Mervyn Johns,and to round off,great photographically lit
sets.I highly recommend this excellent British film

Mike

In 1880 Brighton,a publicans wife played by( Googie Withers)plans to poison her husband,she latches on to a vunerable younger man who"s sweet on her played by (Gorden Jackson)who"s strict father is the local pharmacist played by( Mervyn Johns).Its a brilliant Ealing film from a Roland Pertwee play Its got adultry,murder,and Blackmail a good mix to get the locals in the public house to speculate about.A film that at last is out on DVD.