THE CARD
UK, 1952, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns, Petula Clark, Valerie Hobson, Edward Chapman, Veronica Turleigh, Gibb Mc Laughlin, Frank Pettingell.
Directed by Ronald Neame.
The Card is an entertaining Alec Guinness vehicle from the early '50s, a period when Guinness excelled at light and satiric comedy as in the Ealing Studios comedies, The Lavender Hill Mob, Man in the White Suit and The Ladykillers. He is directed here by Ronald Neame, assistant to David Lean for his classics Great Expectations and Oliver Twist, which also starred Guinness. He was later to direct Guinness's own screenplay of Joyce Carey's The Horse's Mouth.
Guinness has three leading ladies. Valerie Hobson, who starred with him in Kind Hearts and Coronets, is always adept at aristocratic ladies. Glynis Johns is also adept at innocent-sounding but wily gold-diggers. Petula Clark, in a very early role, is the heroine, Nellie.
The film was adapted by novelist Nigel Balchin from the classic Arnold Bennett story. Bennett, like Goldsworthy, wrote about English society at the turn of the century and the early 20th century. Bennett wrote stories of the five towns of the industrial north of England.
1.A British comedy of the '50s? Satire, wit, humour? The film as an Alec Guinness vehicle, his star status at the period?
2.The writings of Arnold Bennett, the portrait of the industrial revolution and the post-revolution period, life in the five towns? British prosperity? The re creation of period, social history of Britain?
3.Black and white photography, the re-creation of the period, the musical score - especially the jaunty theme and its use for characterising Denry?
4.The title, the tone - and the American title, The Promoter?
5.Mrs Menchin and her poverty, hard work in the laundry? The birth of Denry, bringing him up? A shrewd child? His friends, behaviour in school, bets?
6.Henry growing up, his prospects - and his easygoing laziness? The finding of the wallet, searching for the job, returning it to the owner, his honesty being repaid? At work, full of ideas, the lazy touch, shrewdness?
7.The ball and the printing of the tickets? The countess? His wanting to go to the ball, forging his signature, the arrival of the ticket? His going to Ruth for the dancing lessons? The ordering of the suit - and the supplying of tickets?
8.The dance, the man about town, his friends? The Countess of Chelle? His boss? The bet, approaching the countess, inviting her to dance? The laughter, the dancing, returning to her chair? Everybody's reaction?
9.Denry's boss, his anger about the tickets, about Denry's behaviour, dismissing him?
10.The collection of the rents, the manager of the estates and the need for collection? Denry's deal? His collecting the rents, his encounter with the people, pleasant manner, expanding his business?
11.The friendship with Ruth, with Nellie? The visit to Brighton, the amount of spending - the portrait of Brighton, its entertainments, its souvenirs? Ruth and her spendthrift manner, Denry's anger?
12.Ruth and her character, the poor dancing teacher, needing money, her setting her sights on Denry? Rejecting him? His putting her down after her spending so much money? Her going away, the widow, returning? Denry's better prospects? Her wanting to be the mayor's wife? Nellie's departure, their going to Liverpool? Denry's rejection of her? The elderly gentleman and the prospect of another widowhood?
13.Denry and his manipulation of situations, the Countess of Chelle and her car, paying the chauffeur, coming with the donkey, the riding into the town with the countess, the donkey bolting? Denry leading the bidding at the auction? Ingratiating himself with everyone?
14.His becoming mayor, his buying the fur for his mother, her packing it away?
15.Nellie and her friendship with Denry, always present, his not realising that he loved her? Ruth's return, Nellie and the family leaving, the father's financial difficulties, Denry helping? The visit to the ship, his proposal?
16.The happy ending, Denry as mayor, Nellie his wife? The jokes with the donkey?
17.Arnold Bennett's perspective on 19th century England, the industrialisation of the five towns, poverty and the way of life, capitalism and enterprise, the individual, social classes?
