Laburnum Grove

source: Laburnum Grove

Laburnum Grove

I saw this film at the NFT last night.It was shown as part of the tribute to Carol Reed.A director who now largely seems to be forgotten.This film is based on a play by J.B.Prisetley.Given that there is not a lot in the way of opening out it is fairly easy to see where the three acts begin and end.The two lead performances by Gwenn and Harwicke are ones to cherish.I have seen Gwenn in a number of his British films and i have to say that i have not seen him put a foot wrong.He has a cherubic smile which normally hides some mischievous thought.This film thrives on incongruity.There are some exterior shots of suburban London in the 1930s including the exterior,and possibly the interior of Stolls Picture Theatre,which i believe was in Kingsway.

Though he has strong competition for the title from Harry Davenport, Edmund Gwenn is probably the most angelic old man in the movies. He is so sweet, so appreciative, so benign (without being at all sentimental or smug) that no one could believe he was the kingpin of a criminal gang. Or could they? Because he certainly has aroused the suspicions of Cedric Hardwicke, practically a template for the useless, sponging brother-in-law. He and his sour-faced wife have descended on Gwenn and his equally adorable wife, Katie Johnson (who went on to play the putative victim in The Ladykillers) as non-paying guests and show no sign of leaving. But if this couple are immune to shame or gratitude, they start to think seriously about leaving when they believe that Gwenn might end up in prison and take them with him. Is he crooked or isn't he is the conundrum played outso well in this droll little very English comedy.