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United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Black & White, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The Holly And The Ivy is the heart-warming tale set in post-war Britain. Ralph Richardson (Dr.Zhivago, Richard III) plays Reverend Martin Gregory, a recently widowed minister who is reunited with his family one Christmas. Martin is torn between his roles of Clergyman and father. His zeal for attending to his parishioners leads him to neglect the needs of his own family, until emotions boil over one Christmas. Adapted from the stage by director George More O'Ferrall (Angels One Five, The Heart of the Matter), The Holly And The Ivy is a charming and moving seasonal favourite, peaking with the family's poignant reconciliation as they re-discover the true spirit of Christmas. This Christmas classic also stars Celia Johnson (Brief Encounter, The Captain's Paradise), Margaret Leighton (The Winslow Boy, The Go-Between) and Denholm Elliott (A Room with a View). ...The Holly and the Ivy
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
45 of 47 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The video came on time and with that there was no problem. When we watched the video we noticed two scenes had been left out which disapointed us as we know and love the film. Scene one that was missed out was the nativity scene with the children and scene two was the carol singing outside the womans house, We believe that these are an integral part of the film. Is this an underlying plot not to show christian christmas values we wonder?. We will not be using that DVD again we will use the one that we recorded from the television
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The Holly and The Ivy has become a Christmas tradition in our house! I first saw it a few years ago on TV and was absolutely enchanted by it. I do have a fondness for English films of the 50s and 60s anyway but I would honestly recommend it to anyone. From the very first scenes where the invitations are being delivered until the heart-warming ending, this film is a pure joy. I think we would all want to live in a rectory in Norfolk if we are honest, well at Christmas-time anyway! A very nostalgic, English (it couldn`t have been made anywhere else) film that looks fabulous and gives you a warm Christmassy glow. Wonderful!
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Well, I'd never seen this - but I'm delighted to say that the gap has now been filled. For all those who think that the ultimate Christmas films are IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and WHITE CHRISTMAS, take a look at this remarkable and uplifting tale of a country parson, and revel in the sheer quality of the writing, the directing, and the superlative performances from a five-star cast.
The script is faithfully and carefully distilled from a successful stage play of the 1950s - but the adaptation has none of that cardboard quality that is sometimes a pitfall of putting theatre onto the screen.
Celia Johnson, Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, a young Denholm Elliott, and a supporting cast of remarkable talent unfold this bittersweet but ultimately joyous story set in the claustrophobic confines of a country vicarage.
The bells ring for Christmas, the carol singers trill, the goose is basted - and the world is bathed in white and silence. On the surface all is love and goodwill, but relations between the vicar and his grown-up children are stretched to breaking-point. Two sisters and a younger brother are convinced that their father cannot or will not understand their very different needs and wants, and they in turn have made little or no attempt to allow for the sacrifices that have to be made by someone with a calling to the priesthood.
Distressing little domestic incidents occur during the course of an evening - incidents which trigger major changes within the family, bringing out the weaknesses and ultimate strengths of each of the players in turn.
There is a remarkable scene (which for me makes the film worth every penny of its reasonable price) in which Celia Johnson and Margaret Leighton - the vicar's daughters - do nothing more complex than wash up the supper things.
These two sisters with such very different lifestyles talk to each other, probably for the first time in their lives - and there is an almost tangible void between them.
As the void begins to close, surprising and unhappy details of their lives emerge, details that are shocking for the period of the film, and the scene is played for all it's worth in a single very lengthy shot, with no action more vigorous than the drying of a plate or the rinsing of a cup. It's riveting stuff. The immaculate timing and perfectly clipped English of these two extraordinary actresses serve only to emphasise the poignancy of the whole situation, and the viewer can't help but be moved to tears by it.
(Young actors wanting to play 'period' roles should study work like this very carefully. They seldom manage anything half so good, and could learn an enormous amount about manner, movement - and diction.)
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY is justifiably a classic - though perhaps not as famous as it should be. This lovely release on DVD should go some way towards remedying that.
It's not just a film for Christmas: like Shakespeare, it's for all time - and you can't say fairer than that.
The script is faithfully and carefully distilled from a successful stage play of the 1950s - but the adaptation has none of that cardboard quality that is sometimes a pitfall of putting theatre onto the screen.
Celia Johnson, Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, a young Denholm Elliott, and a supporting cast of remarkable talent unfold this bittersweet but ultimately joyous story set in the claustrophobic confines of a country vicarage.
The bells ring for Christmas, the carol singers trill, the goose is basted - and the world is bathed in white and silence. On the surface all is love and goodwill, but relations between the vicar and his grown-up children are stretched to breaking-point. Two sisters and a younger brother are convinced that their father cannot or will not understand their very different needs and wants, and they in turn have made little or no attempt to allow for the sacrifices that have to be made by someone with a calling to the priesthood.
Distressing little domestic incidents occur during the course of an evening - incidents which trigger major changes within the family, bringing out the weaknesses and ultimate strengths of each of the players in turn.
There is a remarkable scene (which for me makes the film worth every penny of its reasonable price) in which Celia Johnson and Margaret Leighton - the vicar's daughters - do nothing more complex than wash up the supper things.
These two sisters with such very different lifestyles talk to each other, probably for the first time in their lives - and there is an almost tangible void between them.
As the void begins to close, surprising and unhappy details of their lives emerge, details that are shocking for the period of the film, and the scene is played for all it's worth in a single very lengthy shot, with no action more vigorous than the drying of a plate or the rinsing of a cup. It's riveting stuff. The immaculate timing and perfectly clipped English of these two extraordinary actresses serve only to emphasise the poignancy of the whole situation, and the viewer can't help but be moved to tears by it.
(Young actors wanting to play 'period' roles should study work like this very carefully. They seldom manage anything half so good, and could learn an enormous amount about manner, movement - and diction.)
THE HOLLY AND THE IVY is justifiably a classic - though perhaps not as famous as it should be. This lovely release on DVD should go some way towards remedying that.
It's not just a film for Christmas: like Shakespeare, it's for all time - and you can't say fairer than that.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
old style film
really great film- black and white- good actors and a story line that comes good in the end. a great film to watch on christmas eve- will make you feel warm inside1
Published 9 days ago by rosa
Well worth waiting 28 years to see the end!!
"The Holly & the Ivy" was one of the first films Mum recorded from television on our brand new Fisher VCR when it was shown at Christmas 1983. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Black Sabriah
The Holly and the Ivy
Bought this to watch over Christmas, and was quite disappointed by it. It is dated and just hasn't moved with the times. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Cheshire Cat
the Holly & the Ivy
I must be honest and say I haven't watched this DVD yet because it is in PAL format and I have an North American DVD player. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Vivian Pentecost
The Holly and the Ivy
Love the fact that they made this movie on DVD. It was everything we expected it to be. Wish they made more movies like this.
Published 6 months ago by K. Brown
Disappointed
I want to say that I enjoyed the film--but I can't, it was disappointing to say the least. I was working on the theory that 'the old films are the best'--don't be fooled, this one... Read more
Published 6 months ago by hamish1
Nostalgic & Wonderful
The Holly and the Ivy is a wonderful 1952 drama about an English clergyman whose neglects his own family, in his efforts to tend to his parishioners. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Grahame
Couldn't play this terrific movie on my usa dvd player
We've been searching for the dvd of this wonderful movie for years. I finally found it on Amazon UK. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Marianne Jackson
Not-to-be-missed Christmas classic
Captivating, this little 1952 film of a family coming together for Christmas at a country rectory. Secrets come out. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Aesop
Great British Film
This is AN ABSOLUTE CLASSIC film and stars Ralph Richardson,Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, (a very young) Denholm Elliott and others. Read more
Published 16 months ago by T. J. Wesker
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