St Martin’s Lane [Sidewalks of London] **** (1938, Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison) – Classic Movie Review 8761

Director Tim Whelan’s delightfully quaint 1938 British black and white showbiz fairy tale film St Martin’s Lane [Sidewalks of London] stars Charles Laughton as an ageing street entertainer (or busker) called Charles Staggers, scraping a living on the streets of the London West End theatre district.

He encounters a young Cockney waif named Libby (Vivien Leigh), a pickpocket with a talent for dancing, and adds her to his dramatic monologue act, taking her into his troupe along with Arthur Smith (Gus McNaughton) and Gentry (Tyrone Guthrie), making their trio into a quartet.

Song writer/ theatre patron Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison) is impressed by Libby’s dancing and invites her to an after-play party, and helps her to stage stardom and a life away from the streets, courtesy of his wealthy friends.

The enthusiastic portrayals, with Leigh taking her cue from Laughton’s larger-than-life persona, Clemence Dane’s brittle, if not entirely believable screenplay, and American film-maker Tim Whelan’s polished direction make for highly attractive vintage entertainment.

A thoroughly entertaining, nicely played comedy drama, St Martin’s Lane [Sidewalks of London] is above average for a British film of the time.

Also in the cast are Larry Adler as Constantine, Tyrone Guthrie as Gentry, Gus McNaughton as Arthur Smith, Edward Lexy as Mr Such, Maire O’Neill as Mrs Such, Helen Haye as Selina, Cyril Smith as Black Face and Ronald Shiner as the barman.

St Martin’s Lane [Sidewalks of London] is directed by Tim Whelan, runs 85 minutes, is made by Mayflower Pictures Corporation, is released by Associated British Film Distributors (1938) (UK) and Paramount Pictures (1940) (US), is written by Clemence Dane, Bartlett Cormack, Charles Laughton, Erich Pommer and Tim Whelan, is shot in black and white by Jules Kruger, is produced by Erich Pommer and Charles Laughton, is scored by Arthur Johnston and Jack Beaver, and is designed by Thomas N Morahan.

It was shot in the studio at British International Pictures, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England.

Charles Laughton won one Oscar – for The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) and was nominated for Mutiny on the Bounty (1935) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957). The great British film actor and international star never won a BAFTA Film Award.

Vivien Leigh (1913–1967) made only 19 films. She won two Oscars: for Gone with the Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951). Her last three were The Deep Blue Sea (1955), The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone (1961) and Ship of Fools (1965).

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8761

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