To describe this as a "man discontented with his marriage, seeks solace
with younger girl" is too simplistic. Anthony Quayle plays "Jimbo", a
drab, rather ordinary clerk whose private life is in chaos due to his
slovenly but sweet souled wife Amy. He desperately needs order and
finds it with Georgie, the office secretary, the initial scenes contrasting
the complete mess of his own home to the stark simplicity in which
Georgie lives. Young Sylvia Sims was really making her way in the film
world and she is fine as Georgie. Both she and Jimbo are living in a
fantasy of love although Jim tellingly says at the start that her attraction
for him was due to his just being there and that he isn't such a great
catch!! But by the film's showdown she has steeled herself to fighting
for Jim - as Amy says, he will not be doing any fighting himself as he
is defeated!!
Yvonne Mitchell is a revelation as Amy - so chaotic, the type of person who can work all day and the house still looks like a bomb has hit it!! From the opening scene with the blaring radio, you are part of Amy's world and you really understand Jim's need to escape but Amy has the sweetest nature. She cooks both Jim and son Brian's (a very good Anthony Ray) meals and serves them on little trays with all the condiments (all the while keeping up happy chatter about her day) but the bacon is burnt, the chips are peculiar ("I've found the best recipe for chips") - it seems whatever she tries will always be second rate. The only person who loves her unequivocally is Brian and it's his bewilderment at the situation that hastens the climax. Jim tells Amy that he wants a divorce but she pleads with him to bring Georgie back to the flat so that they can talk sensibly.
Amy has a plan - she pawns her engagement ring and with the money goes to the hairdresser and buys a small bottle of whiskey, enough for the three of them but everything goes wrong. She gets caught in the rain and her hair is ruined, her best dress has a broken zipper and a well meaning neighbour plies her with drink. By the time Brian comes home from work, not used to spirits she is almost paralytic and when Jim and Georgie arrive, Jim is sucked into a vortex. Amy, while dependent on him, is just drunk enough to fight for her man and tell Georgie some home truths - "you may know a hundred things about him but I know a thousand"!!
At the movie's end there are no winners - Anthony Quayle is so good, walking a thin line between quietness and rage. As he says "we are not going to win the lottery - everyone in the world will win but not us"!! Well meaning neighbour Hilda was played by Carole Lesley a tragic actress who had undeniable charms but when she was dropped by film studio Alliance couldn't accept the fact that she wasn't considered star material. She took her own life at 38.
Very Recommended.
Yvonne Mitchell is a revelation as Amy - so chaotic, the type of person who can work all day and the house still looks like a bomb has hit it!! From the opening scene with the blaring radio, you are part of Amy's world and you really understand Jim's need to escape but Amy has the sweetest nature. She cooks both Jim and son Brian's (a very good Anthony Ray) meals and serves them on little trays with all the condiments (all the while keeping up happy chatter about her day) but the bacon is burnt, the chips are peculiar ("I've found the best recipe for chips") - it seems whatever she tries will always be second rate. The only person who loves her unequivocally is Brian and it's his bewilderment at the situation that hastens the climax. Jim tells Amy that he wants a divorce but she pleads with him to bring Georgie back to the flat so that they can talk sensibly.
Amy has a plan - she pawns her engagement ring and with the money goes to the hairdresser and buys a small bottle of whiskey, enough for the three of them but everything goes wrong. She gets caught in the rain and her hair is ruined, her best dress has a broken zipper and a well meaning neighbour plies her with drink. By the time Brian comes home from work, not used to spirits she is almost paralytic and when Jim and Georgie arrive, Jim is sucked into a vortex. Amy, while dependent on him, is just drunk enough to fight for her man and tell Georgie some home truths - "you may know a hundred things about him but I know a thousand"!!
At the movie's end there are no winners - Anthony Quayle is so good, walking a thin line between quietness and rage. As he says "we are not going to win the lottery - everyone in the world will win but not us"!! Well meaning neighbour Hilda was played by Carole Lesley a tragic actress who had undeniable charms but when she was dropped by film studio Alliance couldn't accept the fact that she wasn't considered star material. She took her own life at 38.
Very Recommended.