TURN THE KEY SOFTLY

UK, 1953, 81 minutes, Black and white.
Yvonne Mitchell, Terence Morgan, Joan Collins, Kathleen Harrison, Thora Hird, Dorothy Alison, Glyn Houston, Geoffrey Keen, Clive Morton.
Directed by Jack Lee.

Turn the Key Softly is a brief melodrama, slice of life so popular with British film-makers in the early '50s. It focuses on three women being released from jail and their first day out and the crises they have to face. Yvonne Mitchell brings dignity to her character. Kathleen Harrison is her usual engaging self. A very young Joan Collins is at the beginning of her career. Terence Morgan is a villain.

Direction is by Jack Lee (A Town Like Alice, The Shiralee). He aims for a blend of realism and a stylised look at life in London at the middle of the 20th century.

1. Enjoyable melodrama? Sketch of three women? A day in their lives?

2. Black and white photography? The life of the city? the worlds of the three women? The melodrama of the robbery attempt and the capture of Dave? Musical score?

3. The title, its focus, the women being released, Monica and the key? Freedom?

4. The three women being released: the attitude of the authorities, their getting their belongings back? Their being transformed and ready to face the world? Their leaving?

5. The. portrait of Alice: Yvonne Mitchell and her style, dignity? Her encounter with David and her love for him, her having gone to jail for him? His using her? Her attempt to get the job, the first refusal, the acceptance and her hopes? The dinner and her taking the two to the hotel, their enjoying their dinner? The encounter with the man in the street and her telling nim, her name was Stella? Her going to the theatre, Dave and his robbery plan? Her fears? Her decision to expose the leader, her finding the key, her watching them take him? her final comment about doing good and wrong? Her grief at the old lady's death, taking the dog?

5. Stella and her youth, hopes, meeting Bob, going to town, meeting her girlfriends, spending the money on the earrings, enjoying the dinner, meeting the man calling her Stella? His giving her the money? Her meeting Bob the possibilities for the future?

7. The old lady, her being frequently in jail, going home, finding her dog, taking him for a walk? Her daughter's surly attitude? Buying her the flowers? Her love for her granddaughter? Going to the dinner, taking the dog? Her enjoying herself? Going to the bar, the drink of ginger ale? Losing Johnny, asking the police, seeing him on the road, her death?

8. The sketch of Dave: his using Monica, his trying to persuade her by his advances? Promise of the theatre? The robbery, the chase on the roof and its melodrama? His being taken?

9. The problem of women coming out of prison, reputations, getting jobs?

10. The melodrama of the attempted robbery, the tire brigade and the police on the roof.

11. A slice of life? Insights into human nature?