The Holly and the Ivy (1954)

I love this movie so much

Don't listen to the negative reviews

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

The Holly and the Ivy is a far cry from the usual Christmas story since it is more a family drama set during the Christmas season. It is a powerful story with excellent acting as the group gets together in a country village north of London in 1948. The family made up of father, aunts, grown children and two male friends come together at the vicarage of the father, the parson in a local church. Ralph Richardson and Margaret Leighton, as father and daughter, have the key roles and are bolstered by a strong supporting cast, including Denholm Eliot and Celia Johnson. During the evening and Christmas morning, family matters that had been ignored or kept secret, come to the fore. After a series of uncomfortable incidents and heart-to-heart talks, things change and everyone finds comfort and possibly a deeper purpose in this Christmas. This is certainly a serious movie and totally entertaining. Unlike many of the fantasy films we see at Christmas, this offers a dose of reality. The sets are very plain as they were in most British dramas of that era but the acting is superb. It teaches the audience that Christmas and family difficulties are often played out together. In that sense, family Christmas gatherings may not be that different than they were 60 some years ago.

I do not give out ten stars lightly. But I feel that this unusual and seldom seen British film is truly worthy of the highest praise - thus as many starts as I am allowed to dole out.As the previous reviewer said, this is a very realistic movie. In fact, I would say that it's well ahead of its time. Its made in the 1950s but it level of realism is like something that would come decades later.It reminds me a tiny but of The Lion In Winter - another terribly realistic movie (also set at Christmas) about a family trying to get along.My wife and I have looked for this movie EVERY Christmas for the past ten years or so on television and been lucky enough to see it only once.I wish they would show it more often.Somehow, its unknown. But it should be among the list of great Christmas movies.

Just in time for Christmas comes a DVD available from the UK, of one of the really great Christmas film gems 'The Holly and the Ivy'. Set in a Norfolk rectory its evocation of a post-war Christmas is brought to life by the playing of Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson as the daughter. It holds no cinematic tricks and as such is just a faithful filming of a stage success. It's strength lies in the wonderful interplay between the divergent characters all coming together to spend Christmas in the Norfolk rectory. The two aunts played by Margaret Halstan and Maureen Delany are quite delightful and almost steal the show.A young Denholm Elliott is to be seen in an early role and Margaret Leighton gives a very moving performance. Just to hear the English language spoken so well by a first class cast is a joy. I love this film and will keep this one to play over the Christams period.

I've always loved this movie, ever since it used to show up on an obscure Minnesota cable channel, but I haven't seen it for at least ten years. Ralph Richardson plays an English parson in a small village, whose adult children come home for Christmas. Before the picture is over, many secrets have come out in the open, and the family has been forced to deal with their unspoken unhappiness. A wonderful British cast makes this story come to life, in a bittersweet recognition that Christmas isn't always a happy time for every family. The film ends on an optimistic note, and is a fascinating glimpse into a time long gone in post World War Two England. Beautifully acted and written, if a trifle slow paced. Well worth the effort of viewing, if you can find it.