The Card [The Promoter] *** (1952, Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns, Petula Clark, Valerie Hobson, Edward Chapman) – Classic Movie Review 8597

Director Ronald Neame’s 1952 British black and white comedy The Card [The Promoter] stars Alec Guinness, who comes up trumps (did he ever give a poor performance?) as opportunist entrepreneur Edward Henry ‘Denry’ Machin, the ultra-ambitious back-street washerwoman’s son who rises to the heights of mayordom at the end of the 19th century.

This solidly carpentered film about a lovable rogue is a perfectly pleasant, light comedy version of Arnold Bennett’s novel The Card, smartly directed by Neame.

The Card [The Promoter] is a thoroughly enjoyable vintage film but not quite inspired as a true classic, though Guinness’s performance elevates it, and it is certainly worth seeing too for Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson and Petula Clark.

Also in the cast are Edward Chapman, Veronica Turleigh, Gibb McLaughlin, Frank Pettingell, George Devine, Joan Hickson, Peter Copley, Deidre Doyle, Matthew Guinness, Lyn Evans, Harold Goodwin, Paul Hopkins, Michael Hordern, Wilfrid Hyde White, Alison Leggatt and Michael Trubshawe.

It was retitled The Promoter in the US.

It was shot at Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England; as well as at Llandudno, Conwy, Wales; and Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England.

The Card [The Promoter] is directed by Ronald Neame, runs 91 minutes, is made by British Film-Makers. J Arthur Rank Organisation and Ronald Neame Production, is released by General Film Distributors (1952) (UK) and Universal Pictures (1952) (US), is written by Eric Ambler, based on Arnold Bennett’s novel The Card, is shot in black and white by Oswald Morris, is produced by John Bryan, is scored by William Alwyn and is designed by T Hopewell Ash.

It was released on Pickwick Video VHS in 1994 in the UK.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8597

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