'The Card' was just what war-worn Britain needed in the early fifties. This innocent, cheeky and humorous talkie would have had the cheap seats in fits!
Alec Guinness plays Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin, a young ambitious chancer who is just about likable enough to get away with the stunts he pulls on his way up the ladder of social and business success. He pounces on each and every opportunity and risks everything he has... and each venture seems to work out very well.
Edward is a very 'English' working class hero and is the sum of many parts. There's some Charlie Chaplin, some Arthur Askey and even some George Cole in the mix. At first, he seems to be rather effete and almost effeminate... he's definitely a mother's boy, though his stubborn mother wouldn't know it!
The story is buoyed by a mass of top class British talent. Already famous Petula Clark plays Nellie but she's always in the shadow of the magnificent Glynis Johns. Her blistering on screen feline sexuality is just pure magic.
Edward Chapman plays a jealous adversary. Chapman was an extraordinarily busy actor throughout his long career but is probably best remembered for playing opposite Norman Wisdom as Mr Grimsdale.
Joan Hickson shows up as a dissatisfied and grouchy property owner. She went on to find her greatest professional success towards the end of her life playing Miss Marple in the best of any Agatha Christie series ever made... in my humble opinion!
Towards the end, there's even a beautiful cameo by Wilfrid Hyde-White. And there are a lot more names for 'spotters' to enjoy, too.
The story is mostly good-natured silliness with no real plot to think about and there are some great outdoor shots of post-war England for good measure.
At this time of writing (2017), there's a good copy of this available to watch on YouTube... so do yourself a favour... unwrap that choc-ice and get over there!
Alec Guinness plays Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin, a young ambitious chancer who is just about likable enough to get away with the stunts he pulls on his way up the ladder of social and business success. He pounces on each and every opportunity and risks everything he has... and each venture seems to work out very well.
Edward is a very 'English' working class hero and is the sum of many parts. There's some Charlie Chaplin, some Arthur Askey and even some George Cole in the mix. At first, he seems to be rather effete and almost effeminate... he's definitely a mother's boy, though his stubborn mother wouldn't know it!
The story is buoyed by a mass of top class British talent. Already famous Petula Clark plays Nellie but she's always in the shadow of the magnificent Glynis Johns. Her blistering on screen feline sexuality is just pure magic.
Edward Chapman plays a jealous adversary. Chapman was an extraordinarily busy actor throughout his long career but is probably best remembered for playing opposite Norman Wisdom as Mr Grimsdale.
Joan Hickson shows up as a dissatisfied and grouchy property owner. She went on to find her greatest professional success towards the end of her life playing Miss Marple in the best of any Agatha Christie series ever made... in my humble opinion!
Towards the end, there's even a beautiful cameo by Wilfrid Hyde-White. And there are a lot more names for 'spotters' to enjoy, too.
The story is mostly good-natured silliness with no real plot to think about and there are some great outdoor shots of post-war England for good measure.
At this time of writing (2017), there's a good copy of this available to watch on YouTube... so do yourself a favour... unwrap that choc-ice and get over there!