LONDON BELONGS TO ME (DULCIMER STREET)
UK, 1948, 112 minutes, Black and white.
Richard Attenborough, Alistair Sim, Fay Compton, Stephen Murray, Wylie Watson, Susan Shaw, Joyce Carey, Eleanor Somerville, Gladys Henson, Maurice Denham.
Directed by Sidney Gilliat.
London Belongs to Me was based on a popular bestseller of the period by Norman Collins. It focuses on a particular area of London, the Kennington area, and Dulcimer Street in particular. The setting is 1938-1939.
The film shows the ordinary lives of ordinary people in London - but also indicates the looming war by the eccentric character of Uncle Henry who persistently throughout the film is anti-appeasement and trying to wake up England about the threat of Hitler. He is played by Stephen Murray.
The central focus is on a very young Richard Attenborough (24 at the time playing 20) and a variation of characters he played in such films as Brighton Rock. He is a young mechanic who becomes involved in car theft and the making over of the stolen cars. His mother, a devout Catholic, played by Gladys Henson, goes to Midnight Mass and Benediction Downstairs are the elderly couple played by Fay Compton and Wylie Watson, he on the verge of retirement, she very severe and wanting to move to a cottage in the country. Susan Shaw is their daughter who is trying to become independent. Alistair Sim, again in a variation of the characters that he portrayed on-screen in such films as Green for Danger, The Green Man as well as the St Trinian's films, is a fake medium trying to persuade a very fastidious and proper Joyce Carey to marry him.
Direction is by Sidney Gilliat who formed a partnership with producer Frank Launder and made a great number of films including several of those which starred Alistair Sim. The film echoes the lifestyle of the 30s and 40s in London as well as offering a reflection and morale booster after the war.
1. A film of its time? A bestselling novel? A 40s retrospective on the late 30s, the British way of life before World War II, the Hitler threat and the response of appeasement until the outbreak of war?
2. The black and white photography, the location settings in Kennington, Dulcimer Street? Homes, workplaces, police stations, prisons and courts? The musical score?
3. The title, its reference to all the characters and their belonging to London as well?
4. The focus on the community, everybody knowing each other, likes and dislikes, associations, work, pulling together - especially, finally, in the efforts for the defence of Percy Boon?
5. Percy Boon, young, his relationship with his mother, her religious background? His work, dating the girl at the fun fair, wanting to take out Doris? His being invited to do the shady deal with the cars, the payments, splashing it on the club with Doris, the police raid, his not standing by Doris? His agreement to steal the cars? Christmas, his coming into the Josser dining room, bringing his mother down? The relationship with the girl at the fun fair, taking her for the ride, the stolen car, speeding, her trying to get the wheel, hitting him, his hitting her, her falling out of the car? Her reappearing in his dreams, taunting him? The arrest, the denials? In jail? The defence? Mr Josser paying for the defence? In court, the interrogations, his being found guilty, the appeal? The demonstration for his not being hanged? A portrait of a young man and his prospects and lack of prospects in this part of London?
6. The Jossers, their experience, living in the flat for so long? The father, rehearsing his speech, the farewell, the clock, dropping it, it making a noise on the mantelpiece? The possibility of moving to the country? Mother and her support, severity, sternness towards Doris? The money going to Percy's defence? Her reaction? In court, supporting her husband? Her relationship to Henry, exasperated with him? Connie coming in from downstairs, the fake fainting fit, at Christmas Dinner and her huge appetite and taking the cake? The future in Dulcimer Street, Mr and Mrs Josser at home there? Doris, staying at home, work, wanting to be independent and not told where to go by her mother, the decision to go out with Percy, the dance, being warned by the policeman? The raid, her being arrested? Bill coming round later, courting her? His realising who Percy was, the arrest, Doris's disdain? His joining her in the protest march?
7. Mrs Vizzard, the prim widow, wanting the money from Connie, advertising the spiritualist paper, her accepting Mr Squales? Going to the séance, realising that it was Mr Squales who was the medium? Her dependence on him, his courting her, his explanations, an adventurer? The manager of the séance coming to warn her about him? Her turning against him, turning him out? His predicting that Percy would be arrested? Her faith in him again? Her feeding him, letting him stay, the courtship, the planned marriage? His story about going to the country, her giving him food for the train, seeing him in the court and walking out on him? Mr Squales, his background, sponging on people, his charm, sinister manner? At the séance? Predicting Percy's arrest - after finding the door handle? The interrogation by the police, his having to go to court, seeing Mrs Vizzard in the court, his bewildered testimony? His being seen again as a medium - and his possibilities for the future?
8. Connie, old woman, working at the club, not wanting to pay the rent, getting a free Christmas Dinner, seeing Percy and Doris at the club? At the court?
9. Bill, his trying to warn Doris at the club, the raid, the police station, his coming around, the meal and everybody awkward at the table and lack of conversation? His pursuit of Percy, Doris's reaction against him? His coming round and walking in the march?
10. Uncle Henry, eccentric, placards, protests, talking against appeasement? Irritating everyone? His finally deciding that Percy was a victim, organising the protest? The reverend and his getting the signatures, leading the protest with the flame? A glimpse of eccentric British protesters and their long tradition?
11. The range of people on Dulcimer Street, honest, dishonest (the man who employed Percy to steal the cars), the police, the clubs, ordinary work? A cross-section of London in the 1930s and 1940s?
