The Card (1952)

To me, this movie is perfection.

Simply A Masterpiece

Absolutely Fantastic

It’s sentimental, ridiculously long and only occasionally funny

Yes, agreed, this is a light-hearted, feel-good film. Events roll pleasantly along, and Guinness crashes through the class barrier using a wily prudence and opportunism.The problem is, Guinness is always Guinness. That works delightfully in "The Ladykillers" and "The Lavender Hill Mob." Not so much in "The Card." Guinness' constant, somewhat smug semi-smirk gives Denry more of an air of cynicism than suits the general purpose of this movie.The casting director should've hauled George Cole into this role. Cole was twenty-seven in 1952. He would've brought the proper note of innocence/cleverness/playful joy into Denry.By the way, the author of the book this film is based on, Arnold Bennett, gave Denry his own birthdate, and was also a rent-collector for a time (while in the employ of his father).

Guinness made a number of fine British comedies in the 1950s, but this is not one of them. It starts off as mildly amusing as Guinness slyly climbs the social ladder through deceit. Soon, however, the events become totally random and the film starts to drag. This may be the longest 90-minute movie ever made! It just goes on and on for what seems like at least two hours. Although light-hearted, there's hardly anything funny here. A good supporting cast is wasted by an uninspired script. Interestingly, a coronation scene near the end features the "Colonel Bogey" march, a tune that was more famously whistled by Guinness's men in "The Bridge on the River Kwai."

From director Ronald Neame (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Poseidon Adventure), any old film with Sir Alec Guinness is definitely worth trying in my opinion. Basically this is the charming story of Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin (Guinness), who finds many ways to rise in the ranks of business and social standing, both honest and some dishonest, and you can't help but like him. It starts with a job in an accountants, and then an invitation to a ball for the Countess of Chell (Valerie Hobson), and he keeps getting more and more money with every new and better job who charms his way into. He also forms a bond with dance teacher Ruth Earp (Mary Poppins' Glynis Johns), they do break up and he finds a new love with Nellie Cotterill (Petula Clark), but in the end, he manages to get to the rank of town mayor. Also starring Edward Chapman as Mr. Duncalf, Veronica Turleigh as Mrs. Machin, George Devine as Mr. Calvert, Gibb McLaughlin as Emery, Frank Pettingell as Police Superintendent, Joan Hickson as Mrs. Codleyn and Michael Hordern as Bank Manager. Guinness doesn't have to try to be nice and charming, he is so natural and I just found myself smiling all the way, and the support of Johns and Hobson are good too. I can see what the critics mean when they say that it is trying to present itself like an Ealing Studios comedy, but it doesn't matter, it is a nice pleasant film. It was nominated the Oscar for Best Sound, Recording. Sir Alec Guinness was number 12 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, he was number 2 on Britain's Finest Actors, and he was number 11 on The World's Greatest Actor. Good!

Apparently a comment on transcending class boundaries, the message seems to get lost amidst the gags, however the film can still be enjoyed as a light comedy. It has a number of amusing moments and ideas, and the introductory narration is wonderfully descriptive. The film suffers from predictability and a rather mundane screenplay and plot, but Alec Guinness's charm and charisma save the day. Glynis Johns is however annoying whenever on screen, but the other actresses manage to do okay. Ronald Neame has done comedy better before - he seems to insert too much action into his vision of the material here - but it ultimately is an entertaining overall film nevertheless.