The Magnet **** (1950, Stephen Murray, Kay Walsh, James Fox, Meredith Edwards, Gladys Henson, Thora Hird, Wylie Watson) – Classic Movie Review 7081

Director Charles Frend’s 1950 British film is an unpretentious, amusing and well-observed Ealing Studios comedy about a naughty 11-year-old boy called Johnny Brent (William Fox, now James Fox), who lands in a lot of bother of his own making when he steals a large super-magnet from another, a much-younger kid.

After Johnny trades an ‘invisible watch’ for the magnet, he runs away when his Nannie (Gladys Henson) tells him off for thieving. Johnny thinks the police are after him and tries to get rid of the incriminating magnet.

T E B Clarke expertly writes this very pleasant and appealing children’s entertainment, atmospherically shot in black and white on Merseyside locations by cinematographer Lionel Banes and director Frend, who encourages lovely performances from the whole cast. Stephen Murray and Kay Walsh are especially fine as the boy’s psychologist parents, Dr and Mrs Brent.

It is great as a quirky old-fashioned children’s entertainment, though it may be a little lower on magnetism for adults, or maybe not, for it is a happy, delightful little film that has cleverness and charm to spare.

Also in the cast are Meredith Edwards, Gladys Henson, Thora Hird, Wylie Watson, James Robertson Justice, Michael Brooke Jr, Julien Mitchell, Anthony Oliver, Molly Hamley-Clifford, Harold Goodwin, Edward Davies, Keith Robinson, Thomas Johnston, David Boyd, Geoffrey Yin, Joan Hickson, Grace Arnold, Jane Bough, Bryan Machie, Joss Ambler, Sam Kydd, Russell Waters and Thea Gregson.

The Magnet is directed by Charles Frend, runs 78 minutes, is made by Ealing Studios, is released by General Film Distributors and Universal, is written by T E B Clarke, is shot in black and white Lionel Banes, is produced by Michael Balcon and Sidney Cole, is scored by William Alwyn and is designed by Jim Morahan.

Studio Canal has chosen it as one of the 16 discs in The Definitive Ealing Studios Collection DVD, though it is perhaps the least known of the whole set. The films are: Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Ladykillers, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Man in the White Suit, The Magnet, Passport to Pimlico, The Titfield Thunderbolt, Whisky Galore, Champagne Charlie, Dead of Night, The Maggie, Scott of the Antarctic, Nicholas Nickleby, Went The Day Well, and It Always Rains on Sunday.

Johnny meets four Liverpool lads, all played by non-professional actors.

It is the 11-year-old James Fox’s second film, following The Miniver Story (1950).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7081

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