The Holly and the Ivy *** (1952, Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, Denholm Elliott, John Gregson, Hugh Williams, Maureen Delaney, Margaret Halstan) – Classic Movie Review 8120

The 1952 British drama film The Holly and the Ivy stars Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson, who give warm performances as a Norfolk rector and his daughter struggling to keep their family in good spirits over the holidays. 

Director George More O’Ferrall’s 1952 black and white British drama The Holly and the Ivy stars Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson, who give warm, appealing, heartfelt performances as the Reverend Martin Gregory, a Norfolk rector, and his daughter Jenny struggling to keep their family in good spirits over the Christmas holidays.

As usual, the widespread Gregory family members come home for Christmas at the parsonage in the rural Norfolk village of Wyndenham. Jenny spends her life looking after her aged father, who is more interested in his parishioners than his family, but she wants to marry engineer David (John Gregson). He’s off to South America for five years, but she can’t leave her father unless her sister or one of her aunts will take care of him.

Margaret Leighton plays Richardson’s other younger, fashionista daughter Margaret, and Denholm Elliott also stars as the son, Michael Gregory. Maureen Delany and Margaret Halstan play Jenny’s aunts.

The Holly and the Ivy is a rather tepid film of Wynyard Browne’s 1950 stage hit that gains nothing on the big screen, except as a useful record of Richardson and Johnson’s screen performances.

This faded film seems dated and sentimental, and has stagey and cramped handling, but the stalwart, ideal Fifties British cast helps a lot. Also in that special cast are John Gregson, Hugh Williams, Margaret Halstan, Maureen Delany [Maureen Delaney], William Hartnell, Robert Flemyng, Roland Culver, John Barry and Dandy Nichols – every one a winner.

Browne’s play was staged at London’s Duchess Theatre in 1950 with Maureen Delany and Margaret Halstan in the cast, reprising their roles as Aunt Bridget and Aunt Lydia for the film. The screenplay is by the Russian-born producer Anatole de Grunwald. It is shot in black and white by Ted Scaife and designed by Vincent Korda. It runs 83 minutes.

Malcolm Arnold’s score is played by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It was shot at British Lion Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England.

Although playing her father, Ralph Richardson was only six years older than Celia Johnson.

Over the years, it has become a British TV Christmas holiday favourite, in the spirit of warmth and nostalgia, time having treated it kindly.

The Holly and the Ivy is directed by George More O’Ferrall, runs 83 minutes (UK) and 80 minutes (US), is made by London Film Productions and De Grunwald Productions, is released by British Lion Film Corporation (1952) (UK) and Pacemaker Pictures (1954) (US), is written by Anatole de Grunwald, based on Wynyard Browne’s play, is shot in black and white by Ted Scaife, is produced by Anatole de Grunwald, is scored by Malcolm Arnold and is designed by Vincent Korda.

It was released for Christmas on 22 December 1952 in the UK, and later, slightly cut, on 4 February 1954 in the US.

The cast are Ralph Richardson as Reverend Martin Gregory, Celia Johnson as Jenny Gregory, Margaret Leighton as Margaret Gregory, Denholm Elliott as Michael Gregory, John Gregson as David Paterson, Hugh Williams as Richard Wyndham, Margaret Halstan as Aunt Lydia, Maureen Delany as Aunt Bridget, William Hartnell as Company Sergeant Major, Robert Flemyng as Major, Roland Culver as Lord B, John Barry and Dandy Nichols as Neighbour.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8120

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