MIRACLE IN SOHO
UK, 1957, 97 minutes, Colour.
John Gregson, Belinda Lee, Cyril Cusack, Rosalie Crutchley, Ian Bannen, Brian Bedford.
Directed by Julian Anyes.
Miracle in Soho is a film grounded in the streets of the centre of inner London. The film has an authentic atmosphere - a mixture of realism as well as the quaint and the fey. The film was written by Emeric Pressburger, the long-time collaborator with Michael Powell with such films as The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, Black Narcissus. This solo effort is surprisingly sentimental.
John Gregson, very popular at the time, leads a character cast in re-creating the life in the houses and streets of Soho. Set in 1957, the film also has the prospect of people migrating from England to make a new life in Canada. The religiosity of the film is particularly pious, something characteristic of the time, where more attention is given to lighting candles at the statue of St Anthony than praying the mass and other more essential aspects of Catholicism.
1. A pleasant romance - with the down-to-earth touch in central London?
2. Soho, 1957, the streets, the houses, pubs, restaurants? The racial mix? The reality of streets being dug up and the ordinary life in Soho? The musical score, songs?
3. The title, the religious touch, the Catholicism of many of the inhabitants of Soho, the Italian Catholics, mass, piety, prayer before the statue of St Anthony? Prayers being answered?
4. The tone of the film, the people, their various jobs, ethnic backgrounds, work? The pubs, drinking? The religious motifs, the church, the Salvation Army? An authentic atmosphere?
5. The digging up of the streets, Michael as a workman, his flair with the girls, his reputation, love them and leave them? His flirting with the girl in the pub? Discovering that she was engaged to Filippo? The encounters with Julia, the clashes, the friendship, her asking him to help out with the family? The dates, going to the restaurant, talking things over? His relationship with the fellow workers, especially Tom, Tom's injury? The clashes with Mr Bishop and his threats? The Italian family and the emotion? His having his eye on the woman who walked the dog? His genuinely falling in love with Julia, the prospect of her going to Canada, going to the airport, the return, the happy reunion - the miracle?
6. The pub, the owner, people going in, the woman and her flirting? The engagement to Filippo? The truth and the breaking off?
7. The Italian family, the restaurant, the lifestyle? Mafalda and her practicalities, her working with the owner of the restaurant, the possibility of their becoming engaged? The family going to Canada, her helping to hold the family together? The encounters with Michael? Filippo? Filippo and his emotions, the photo for the Department of Migration? The parents, the excitement of going to Canada, the father being a photographer? The emotional reaction to Filippo not wanting to go? Julia not going?
8. Mr Bishop, the postman, prissy, knowing everything, busybody? Making mischief? Being challenged? His religious meeting, Mafalda and Julia going? His change of heart, the friendship with Michael?
9. The other people on the street, being upset by the road-mending, the dancer, the father and his pregnant wife? The finishing of the job - and the further need for reconstruction?
10. A cross-section of people, from a period of the mid-20th century? Human nature remaining the same, styles and lifestyles changing?
