The Card

1952

1h 25m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

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8 Images

Comedy

A charming and ambitious young man finds many ways to raise himself through the ranks in business and social standing - some honest, some not quite so. If he can just manage to avoid a certain very predatory woman.

Directors

Ronald Neame

Writers

Arnold Bennett(novel by)

Eric Ambler(screenplay by)

Stars

Alec Guinness

Glynis Johns

Valerie Hobson

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Videos1

Trailer
Watch The Card (1952) ORIGINAL TRAILER [HD 1080p]

Photos8

Top cast

Alec Guinness

Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin

Ruth Earp

Countess of Chell

Nellie Cotterill

Mr. Duncalf

Mrs. Machin

Mr. Calvert

Mrs. Codleyn

Police Superintendent

Gibb McLaughlin

Emery

Peter Copley

P. Shillitoe (uncredited)

Mark Daly

Lord Mayor (uncredited)

Deidre Doyle

Widow Hullins (uncredited)

Henry Edwards

Mr. Cotterill (uncredited)

Lyn Evans

Cregeen (uncredited)

Wilfrid Hyde-White

Lord at the Liverpool Dock

Michael Hordern

Bank Manager

Matthew Guinness

Denry as a Boy

Directors

Ronald Neame

Writers

Arnold Bennett(novel by)

Eric Ambler(screenplay by)

All cast & crew

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User reviews1

Review

Featured review

7/10

Ronald Name has done quite a good job turning Arnold Bennett's amiable rags-to-riches tale into a throughly watchable film. Alec Guinness ("Denry" - an amalgam of Edward and Henry) is the aspiring son of a lowly washerwoman (Veronica Turleigh). Determined to better his lot, he happens upon the wallet lost by local lawyer/bigwig "Duncalf" (Edward Chapman). Honesty always being the best (and expedient) policy, he returns it and is soon his clerk; a menially clerical position that first introduces him to the rather daunting "Countess of Chell" (Valerie Hobson), Now he begins to set his sights on greater civic (and personal) success. She and his employer are hosting a grand ball and for that - to which he has invited himself - he must learn a few social skills, like dancing. That's where Glynis Johns' "Miss Earp" comes in, and the scene is now set for a few fun escapades as up the greasy pole he goes, finding true love en route. It's tightly cast, with only a few speaking parts, and that keeps the plot focussed and the pace moving along well. The writing delivers a jolly film: a little comedy disaster, some silly frolics and wonderfully charming performances from Guinness and his frequently quite manipulative co-star Miss Johns. There's a little social commentary to beef it up; the deference shown to the benecfactrix Countess by those living on the breadline is presented well with Hobson ideally cast as the woman far more pragmatic about her role in society that many of the sycophants around her. There are also some quite poignant scenes depicting the overall perspective of many people to know - and stick to - their place! All work well together and it's certainly one of Guinness' better efforts.

Geronimo196711 Sep, 2022