THE COMMON TOUCH
UK, 1941, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Geoffrey Hibbert, Harry Welchman, Greta Gynt, Joyce Howard, Edward Rigby, Paul Martin, Raymond Lovell.
Directed by John Baxter.
The Common Touch is a little-known British film made in the early years of the war. John Baxter was a director with social concerns and this is evident in this film.
The film opens with a cricket match, life amongst the upper classes and a young man of eighteen leaving school and inheriting his father’s business. The film shows the machinations of big businessmen and corporations at the time, demolishing buildings without regard for the inhabitants.
The young man is very earnest, he and his friend disguise themselves and live in the shelter in the buildings which are to be demolished, getting to know and understand the men there, learning about the deals, enlisting the help of a down-and-out lawyer. There are also some entanglements with a singer in a nightclub whose father is one of the men in the shelter.
The film is something of a sermon for Britain at the time, the value of waging the war, so that England could improve, so there could be equality amongst all people.
Geoffrey Hibbert is the young man – who appeared in supporting roles in a number of films. Harry Welchman has a good presence as the down-and-out lawyer. There are a number of character actors including the genial Edward Rigby as well as the sinister Raymond Lovell.
1.A film produced during the early years of World War Two? The picture of England? No aspects of the war – but audiences supplying the background?
2.The black and white photography, the world of upstairs, downstairs? Schools, homes, the palatial homes, the corporation offices? The contrast with Charlie’s, a refuge for the street people? The world of the nightclub? Lord’s and cricket?
3.The music, the wide range of songs, their performance, the variety? Entertaining contemporary songs, the classics?
4.A film of social concern, critique of British society – and hope for more equality and justice?
5.The opening, the school, the cricket match, the bonds between the students, their prospects? Typical English, the English spirit, good sportsmanship? The meal, the horseplay? The servant, his advice?
6.Peter, his age, the huge inheritance? Playing cricket, a hero at school? Going to the business, the preparation, dressing, his falling on the steps, being helped, going to the officers, security and their suspicions about him, ushering him out? The meeting, the executive and his suspicions of Peter, the other members of the board? The board meeting, his presence, decisions?
7.Behind the scenes, the executive and his planning, the other members o board? Their expansion, demolition of buildings, new buildings? Their wanting Charlie’s, the forging of the document? Ordering the street people out?
8.The collage of Peter’s work, his getting to understand the business, its effect on him?
9.The nightclub, Sylvia, her songs? The lavish club, the discussion about cricket, Chris flirting? Her fiance? The later sequences with Inky, the fact that he was her father, the plan about writing the letter, her wanting to marry, the shame about her father? The arrangement for him to go to the club, his glimpse of her? His death? The letter, Peter delivering it at Lord’s? The effect on Sylvia, her ringing Stuart?
10.Tich, Charlie, the refuge? The range of people there, the old man, the pianist, Inky? Lincoln’s Inn? The spirit, the two young men going, the tour of the place? The smokes, the food? Mary and her relationship with Peter, with Chris, her being suspicious, her handing out the food, discovering what hat happened? The piano?
11.Peter and Chris, the experience, the reason for Peter’s decision to go, with Charlie and Tich, learning the reality about the executives of the company, overhearing? Lincoln’s Inn and his seeing what was happening, wanting to help? The plan, Tich and the safe, Mary and the discussion with the executive about her opera career? Getting the documents, seeing the forgery?
12.Mary, Chris’s sister, in love with Peter? At the nightclubs, visiting the house, the butler indicating what was happening? Her help, the sequence of pretending to the opera singer?
13.The cricketer, his love for Sylvia, the possibility of marriage? The irony with Inky killing himself?
14.The expose of the villains, the preservation of Charlie’s, a home for the street people?
15.A sense of optimism, that the traditionally wealthy British could sympathise with the street people? Collaboration? Hope for a new England after World War Two?
