The Irresistible (1952)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The irresistible one |
| Original title | The Card |
| Country of production | United Kingdom |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1952 |
| length | 85 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | Ronald Neame |
| script | Eric Ambler |
| production | John Bryan |
| music | William Alwyn |
| camera | Oswald Morris |
| cut | Clive Donner |
| occupation | |
| |
The Irresistible is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Ronald Neame and premiered on February 25, 1952, starring Alec Guinness as a career-oriented man who is purposefully pursuing his way up. The title hero Guinness is framed by a prominent female cast: Valerie Hobson , Glynis Johns and ex-child star Petula Clark in her first adult role. The literature template The Card (1911) comes from Arnold Bennett .
action
The irresistible is the young Edward Henry, called “Denry”, machin, a man from a poor background but with big and ambitious life plans. In order to get admission to the elite “School for the sons of Gentlemen”, Denry cheats on the entrance exam. At the age of 16 he succeeds in convincing the town clerk and lawyer Mr. Duncalf to hire him as his right-hand man. Thanks to his boss, the little office worker Denry Machin gets to know the charming and elegant Countess of Chell, a client of Duncalf, who from now on will be the helpful angel at his side on the career ladder. The lady is a respected representative of English society and instructs her protégé to send out invitations for the upcoming ball in town. Without further ado, Denry issued himself an invitation to this event, which will certainly be the next talk of the town. Cheeky as he is, he also makes a bet of five pounds that he will have a dance with the Countess on the floor. This eventually earned him the nickname “The Card,” the term used for someone who is a topic of conversation. Of course, the ambitious climber wins his bet, but loses his job the next day when Mr. Duncalf furiously fires Denry.
Denry also makes a virtue of this need and now offers himself to an ex-client, Mrs. Codleyn, who is dissatisfied with Mr. Duncalfs' service. He wants to work for them as a rent collector. He quickly gains a reputation for being very efficient at work, which in turn brings him into contact with a Mr. Calvert. Denry quickly realizes that he can expect much greater success if he acts as a lender, of course on juicy terms. Numerous tenants known to him appear to be willing “victims”, all of whom have defaulted on payments. One of them is called Ruth Earp, a dance teacher Denry likes a lot. Although she is also in debt, Denry becomes engaged to her. During a vacation trip to Wales , on which the two are accompanied by Ruth's teenage friend Nellie Cotterill as chaperone, Denry observes how a ship runs aground and the seamen in distress are rescued. He immediately has a new business idea that he immediately implements to his financial advantage. But Denry also realizes to his horror on this trip that Ruth cannot handle money like that at all. This is a reason for him to part with his girlfriend immediately.
Denry is building his own business with Five Towns Universal Thrift Club, which allows members to purchase things on credit. The business model is successful and makes Edward Henry Machin rich. He can expand quickly, not least thanks to the help of his old patroness, the Countess of Chell. But all of this is no longer enough for Denry. Now that he seems financially secure, he is finally striving for social recognition. He rises to the city council and, en passant, acquires the purchase rights for a local footballer, supposedly the best center forward in England, who could save the local football club, which was down. When Ruth comes back into his life, Denry Machin seriously considers starting a relationship with her again, because she had married richly in the meantime and is already widowed again. But Denry is unclear about his feelings for her. Nellie's father, who has a construction business, is broke again and now wants to emigrate to Canada, preferably with Denry's support. The family goes on board in Liverpool. Denry sees that Nellie feels a lot for him, and he too has strong feelings for Ruth's very young friend. Ruth is very angry about this, but quickly changes direction and finds an older man who can stand her. Nellie and Denry eventually get together and get married. Denry has finally made it: The irresistible has the woman he loves by his side, is wealthy and has now also become mayor of his hometown Bursley, the youngest in the history of this city.
Production notes
The Irresistible was premiered on February 25, 1952, the German premiere took place on January 31, 1958 as the English original version with subtitles. The German dubbed version of the film was shown for the first time on May 14, 1967 on ZDF .
The location was Burslem ( Stoke-on-Trent ).
The film received an Oscar nomination for Best Sound in 1953 .
Earl St. John took over the production management. T. Hopewell Ash was responsible for the film construction, Sophie Devine for the costumes. Max Varnel worked as an assistant director to Ronald Neame. As a simple cameraman, Ernest Steward did several outdoor shots. Muir Mathieson was hired to conduct the recording of William Alwyn's film composition. Alan Withy was an unnamed draftsman.
Reviews
Bosley Crowther wrote in the New York Times : “It seems that Alec Guinness has developed a weakness for crooks and rascals, at least insofar as they allow him to be a happy companion on screen. (...) Mr. Guinness' rascal gives a cross impression of innocent betrayals, only apparently a coward with monstrous cunning (...) Valerie Hobson is lovable and spirited as a countess, Petula Clark is sweet ... and Edward Chapman, George Devine and some others excellent in small provincial roles. But the script that Eric Ambler adapted from Arnold Bennett's old novel 'The Card' is provocatively unaffected by any dramatic compulsion or drive. It strolls very gently from one situation to the next. "
In the lexicon of the international film it says: “With a lot of routine, conventionally staged ironic comedy with a lot of taste for the numerous hypothermic punchlines developed. Well played in the main role. The basically untranslatable diction, which contributes decisively to the cheerfulness, was transmitted seriously and carefully in the German TV version. "
The Movie & Video Guide called the film, which was shown in the USA as The Promoter , a “charming comedy”.
Halliwell's Film Guide judged: "Pleasant comedy from the time, with the star in a bespoke role and an excellent production standard."
Individual evidence
- ↑ Bosley Crowther: Alec Guinness and Glynis Johns Play a Crafty Pair in 'The Promoter' at Fine Arts In: The New York Times, October 29, 1952, accessed February 15, 2019.
- ↑ The Irresistible. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed February 14, 2019 .
- ^ Leonard Maltin : Movie & Video Guide, 1996 edition, p. 1046
- ^ Leslie Halliwell : Halliwell's Film Guide, Seventh Edition, New York 1989, p. 174
Web links
- The Irresistible in the Internet Movie Database (English)