Not part of a collection.
The Card
He's the cheekiest man in town!
A charming and ambitious young man finds many ways to raise himself through the ranks in business and social standing - some honest, some not quite so. If he can just manage to avoid a certain very predatory woman.
- Original title
- The Card
- Language
- EN
- Country
- GB
- Budget
- —
- Revenue
- —
CinemaSerf
Sep 11, 2022 · via TMDB
Ronald Name has done quite a good job turning Arnold Bennett's amiable rags-to-riches tale into a throughly watchable film. Alec Guinness ("Denry" - an amalgam of Edward and Henry) is the aspiring son of a lowly washerwoman (Veronica Turleigh). Determined to better his lot, he happens upon the wallet lost by local lawyer/bigwig "Duncalf" (Edward Chapman). Honesty always being the best (and expedient) policy, he returns it and is soon his clerk; a menially clerical position that first introduces him to the rather daunting "Countess of Chell" (Valerie Hobson), Now he begins to set his sights on greater civic (and personal) success. She and his employer are hosting a grand ball and for that - to which he has invited himself - he must learn a few social skills, like dancing. That's where Glynis Johns' "Miss Earp" comes in, and the scene is now set for a few fun escapades as up the greasy pole he goes, finding true love en route. It's tightly cast, with only a few speaking parts, and that keeps the plot focussed and the pace moving along well. The writing delivers a jolly film: a little comedy disaster, some silly frolics and wonderfully charming performances from Guinness and his frequently quite manipulative co-star Miss Johns. There's a little social commentary to beef it up; the deference shown to the benecfactrix Countess by those living on the breadline is presented well with Hobson ideally cast as the woman far more pragmatic about her role in society that many of the sycophants around her. There are also some quite poignant scenes depicting the overall perspective of many people to know - and stick to - their place! All work well together and it's certainly one of Guinness' better efforts.
User reviews courtesy of TMDB.
Criterion Channel
Alec Guinness
Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin
Glynis Johns
Ruth Earp
Valerie Hobson
Countess of Chell
Petula Clark
Nellie Cotterill
Edward Chapman
Mr. Duncalf
George Devine
Mr. Calvert
Joan Hickson
Mrs. Codleyn
Frank Pettingell
Police Superintendent
Gibb McLaughlin
Emery
Peter Copley
P. Shillitoe (uncredited)
Henry Edwards
Mr. Cotterill (uncredited)
Wilfrid Hyde-White
Lord at the Liverpool Dock
Michael Hordern
Bank Manager
Ronald Neame
Director
Eric Ambler
Screenplay
Little League: From Ambition I Learned
La La Land
Boogie Nights
American Movie
Best Friend
El Supersabio
A New Leaf
Trading Places
Where the Heart Is
Love and Wine
Sounds Between the Crowns
The Rag Man
Rocket Singh: Salesman of the Year
Election
O Lucky Man!
The Ferpect Crime
Ladies in Black
Second to None
The Devil Plays the Flute
Jawbreaker
The Astronaut Farmer
The Three from the Filling Station
Ta Ra Rum Pum
Tillie's Punctured Romance
Fitzwilly
Carom Shots
Public Wedding
Solitary Man
Tom Jones
Love, Honour and Obey
My Piece of the Pie
Head of State
The Accidental Husband
From Prada to Nada
The American Mall
J'invente rien
Nikodem Dyzma
Poor White Trash
Two Weeks to Live
Division III: Football's Finest
Croque la vie
Guru En Aalu
Alabang Girls
Altin in the city
Pighead
Lonely
A Dog's Life
The Intern
Take the Money and Run
Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story
The Pink Panther Strikes Again
Family Plot
Good Neighbor Sam
Fun with Dick and Jane
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Brewster's Millions
I'm All Right Jack
Accepted
The Champion
The Secret of My Success
Coffee Town
Ocean's Eleven
Oscar
Carry On Regardless
Taking Care of Business
Rat Race
Carry On Constable
Fun with Dick and Jane
Dick Tracy
After the Fox
Sneakerella
Oct 28, 1952
