CAST:directed: produced: running time: scr: phot: mus: mus dir:
main cast:
oscar nominations (1954):- best screenplay
- best music.
Making
G E N E V I E V E
"A thoroughly British film classic with a script by an American!"
- Paul Page
I was about to suggest that this was thekind of film only the British couldmake - until I remembered that thewriter, William Rose, to whose scriptthe picture's success owed so much,was an American. Nevertheless, in spirit, performance and execution Genevieve is essentially British or even,to narrow it down further, English. Thecharming middle-class manners (e.g.the scene when John Gregson nearlyruins his chances in the race by courteously allowing an enthusiastic old gentto bend his ear) are English; so are thebreezy cheerfulness, the laconic understatement and the appealing lightnesswith which the whole question of sex istouched upon and, having beentouched upon, is put very properly toone side. Naturally these two couples(Gregson and Dinah Sheridan, KennethMore and Kay Kendall) are sexuallyinterested in each other but, come,come, let's not dwell on it.
The story is sheer simplicity: two vintage car buffs,driving a 1904 Darracq (the eponymous Genevieve) and a 1904 Spykerand accompanied by their respectivegirlfriends, take part in the annualLondon to Brighton rally and thenchallenge each other to a race back tothe capital, the prize being Genevieve herself. What transforms this frommerely a likeable romp to an enduringly loveable comedy is the mysteriouschemistry that sometimes occurs onmovie sets and makes everything blendperfectly. The script is droll and witty;the pace, building up from a leisurelystart, just right; and the performances,especially that of the trumpet-playing Kendall, are all that one could ask.
Kendall, a delicious light comedienne,seemed to have the potential for international stardom and might well haveachieved it had not leukaemia causedher tragically early death at the age of 33 in I959. (Note: the music - a harmonica score composed and played by Larry Adler - was nominated for anOscar. But because Adler was personanon grata with the House of Un-American Activities Committee, thenomination was credited to - thoughnever claimed by - Muir Mathieson.Academy records have since beenchanged to give Adler his due recognition.)
And here he is again, Geoffrey Keen. Is there a British film of the 1950s in which he did not appear? As supporing actors go, he seems to have supported the British film industry all by himself. He must if never had a day off work.
Genevieve
U K D V D
DVD Features:Main Language: English
Available Audio Tracks: Mono
Hearing Impaired: English
A Profile Of Genevieve Documentary
Biographies
Stills Gallery
Interactive Menus
This "Special Edition" version of Genevieve has a decent new documentary with reminiscences from Dinah Sheridan (still radiant), the director of photography and the film’s editor, who talk about the challenges of filming on location. Most treasurable of all, though, is legendary harmonica player Larry Adler, who remembers his distinctive score with much fondness and is not at all embittered by his Hollywood blacklisting, which meant he was denied an Academy Award nomination. There’s also a short piece on some of the locations used (which for economic reasons were mostly in the lanes around Pinewood studios), cast biographies and a gallery of stills.
Available:
Affiliate/Advertising policy.
Genevieve
F I L M P O S T E R S
Kenneth More's popularity in British cinema as a leading man really hit it's height in the 1950s. So your're talking about Genevieve to Sink the Bismarck!, released at the tail end of the decade. It's posters from this decade that are really Kenneth More collectables
- PAUL PAGE, 2019
I started collecting Kenneth More reproduction film posters as they were a lot less expensive than the original promo posters - made at the time of the film. Sure the originals are magical - invariably the ones I've seen have had damage as they were usually stored badly but that adds to their charm - but when you are talking 100s of pounds for one poster - well it was out of my price range. Try finding any of the original Genevieve posters cheaply.
Repro posters sanctioned by the relevant film studio are usually the best quality. You just have to do your own research. Kenneth More Film Posters @ amazon.co.uk (direct link to posters)
KENNETH MORE: genevieve poster
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KENNETH MORE: genevieve belgian movie poster
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