5.7
After a chance train encounter with Laurence Knight, Tom Blake's family's fortunes prosper on the beneficence of the great financier. A developing friendship leads to the Knights selling their home to the Blakes when they move back to London. All looks rosy for the Blakes as share prices in Mr Knight's new business venture soar, but is their confidence misplaced?
Mervyn Johns
Tom Blake
Nora Swinburne
Celia Blake
Joyce Howard
Freda Blake
Joan Greenwood
Ruth Blake
Peter Hammond
Douglas Blake
Marie Ault
Grandma Blake
Frederick Cooper
Edward Blake
Grace Arnold
Isabel Blake
Alfred Drayton
Mr. Lawrence Knight
Olive Sloane
Mrs. Maudie Knight
Joan Maude
Carrie Porritt
Kenneth Kove
Coggie Selby
Frederick Burtwell
Mr. Berry
Winifred Oughton
Mrs. Greene
Tarva Penna
Mr. Greene
Patric Curwen
Mr. Porter
Muriel Aked
Lady Gilling
Anthony Holles
Station Master
Gordon Begg
Sims
Ian Fleming
Higgs
Sheila Raynor
Agnes
Pat Stevens
Miss Berry
Doyley John
Bobby Hewett
Director, Screenplay
Norman Walker
Novel
Dorothy Whipple
Screenplay
Victor MacLure
February 13, 2023
6
"Mr. Knight" (Alfred Drayton) is the archetypal man made good. He walks to his first class railway carriage every morning fêted by the staff and the management. One morning he is prevented from treading on a banana skin on the steps by the struggling mill owner "Blake" (Mervyn Johns) and soon the two are inseparable. "Blake" is ambitious for success - for himself and his large family, and hopes his association with this successful man will bring him good fortune. Initially it does, and they move to big house and acquire the trappings of luxury - but as with anything that looks too good to be true, it usually is. Things take a turn for the worst and the friendship turns sour leaving "Blake" with quite an headache. This is a simple enough story of greed. Not necessarily of the venal sort. In the beginning "Blake" wants his money for his family - a laudable motive, no doubt. Like "Scrooge", though, his character finds the pursuit of wealth addictive. He gradually becomes subsumed by the need to make more, and more. Enough is never enough. When the bottom falls out of his dream, he is bereft - but not just of the cash, but of his integrity and his soul. His children are also quite an effective barometer of the toxicity of wealth too - not least the spoiled and selfish "Freda" (a strong performance from Joyce Howard) and his other daughter "Ruth" (Joan Greenwood). Like many British films made immediately post-WWII, it has a message to it and this well assembled cast delivers it clearly. For a Britain in 1946 - there are few quick wins.
Status:
Released
Original Language:
English
Budget:
$0.00
Revenue:
$0.00