A PLACE OF ONE'S OWN
UK, 1944, 92 minutes, Black and white.
James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price, Helen Haye, Michael Shepley, Dulcie Gray, Moore Marriott.
Directed by Bernard Knowles.
A Place of One's Own is a small-budget British movie of the mid-'40s. It is from the Gainsborough Studios with stars James Mason and Margaret Lockwood. However, it is a far cry from the high-passioned melodramas such as The Wicked Lady, The Man in Grey, Fanny by Gaslight.
This is a pleasant ghost story from a novel by Osbert Sitwell (who collaborated with the screenplay). Mason acts out of type as an elderly Leeds gentleman. Barbara Mullen is his wife. They buy an old house which has the reputation of being haunted. Margaret Lockwood is the companion who is taken over by the ghost of the house. Dennis Price is the sympathetic doctor.
The film is familiar material - but done with an elegant touch and very British restraint. Light and attractive entertainment - but a film of its period.
1.Entertaining ghost story? Human drama? The elegant touch with turn of the century style?
2.Black and white photography, atmosphere of the period, the house and the town? The strong cast and their performances?
3.The title, the Smedhursts' retirement, the ironies of the ghost, Smedhurst being willing to destroy the house in order to save Annette?
4.Harry and his wife, their working life, their retirement? Buying the house - and getting it cheaply? The love of each other, the memories of their dead children? Hopes for retirement? The house, settling in, the mysterious voice on the communication pipe? The wife and her suspicions of ghosts? Harry and his scepticism? Annette and her arrival, the happy household? The sending out of invitations, the military man and his wife, Robert as visitor? Discussions about the history of the house? Annette and her playing the piano, her taking ill? Harry and his puzzle, his wife looking after Annette? Advice from doctors? From the estate agents? Harry getting the police to track down the doctor who was the lover of the ghost? His arrival, healing Annette? The information that he had died the night before? The happy resolution - Annette as the daughter they did not have, announcing her engagement, the prospect of the happy marriage - and a place of their own? The pleasant portrait of an elderly British couple?
5.Annette, her charm, coming to be the companion, fitting into the household? The mystery of her orders to the gardener - and the indication of the ghost? The finding of the gold locket? Her attraction towards Robert? Her nervousness, playing the piano, being taken over, taken ill, her delirium, the ghost of Elizabeth and her memories? Her recovery - and the happy ending?
6.Robert, a proper doctor, his aunt and uncle and their society attitudes, disdain of the Smedhursts? Attracted to Annette? His concern about her illness, treating her? The cure? The prospect of marriage?
7.The atmosphere of the period - the aristocracy, visiting, snobbery? The local police, the estate agent? Doctors?
8.The ghost story and its plausibility - other worlds, atoning for sins in life, part of the energy remaining, conflicts having to be resolved? A pleasant ghost story - with no special effects but strong acting, atmosphere and humour and sentiment?
