What I liked best about our film was Michael Redgrave’s character. I think he stole all of his scenes fair and square. Margaret Lockwood was clever enough to bring a pretty face to the contest, but not clever enough to hold her ground.
One of my favorite Redgrave performances was as the school teacher Crocker-Harris in Anthony Asquith’s 1951 “The Browning Version”. It is out on Criterion—I recommend it to all.
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I enjoyed him. He was sort of magnetic, if thoroughly irritating at the beginning. I agree that Margaret Lockwood was outmatched.
Yes, he was very charming. I didn't even mind his silliness at the beginning because Iris was being such an autocratic bitch.
Agreed on Redgrave. He's a natural. I don't know that we really appreciate today the audacity of a man barging into a woman's bedroom. It did feel a little shocking to me, so I wonder how it was perceived at the time. I loved when he handed her his horn case and she threw it across the room. She didn't start screaming like a helpless virgin — she just started sassing back. I loved that. She had immediately assessed that he was not a danger, just a terrific nuisance. Her up-to-then imperiousness started to seem like pure moxie to me.
And the bit about how she had done everything and been everywhere — "I've played baccarat in Biarritz!" — and there was nothing left for her to do but get married — the way that comes unexpectedly true, but that she will be marrying the folk music adventurer and not the stuffy rich guy, is really great. You can tell that a fun life awaits her, that there are adventures in store for her far beyond playing cards in the South of France.
I disliked the character and was unimpressed with Redgrave.
The character reminded me of Vernon T. Waldrip (played by Ray McKinnon) in Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
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