It's 1783 and in the slums of London's Houndsditch, Sara Allgood (Meg) runs a house for wayward/poor girls who are expected to steal and prostitute themselves in order to earn their keep. Her current crop includes Paulette Goddard (Kitty) and Mae Clarke (Molly). We follow Goddard's path to wealth as she encounters first painter Cecil Kellaway (Gainsborough) and then aristocrat Ray Milland (Hugh). Milland takes in Goddard and introduces her to his alcoholic aunt Constance Collier (Susan). These three embark upon a plan to get wealthy but Goddard needs to be schooled in social skills and has to drop her cockney accent. She's then free to marry into wealth but can this give her happiness? After all, she does like a scam
An entertaining film with funny moments and special mention must be given to Constance Collier on this front. Hilarious. We know that Goddard and Milland are destined for each other but what are the circumstances that are going to bring this about? We get humour, drama and even a body count! The cast are all on form – probably the worst thing is Goddard's cockney accent but she does not keep it up for the duration of the film. It's a "My Fair Lady" type of story but much better than that film. None of those talking songs, either.
Things haven't changed much in London – it's still a slum, the aristocracy is still broke and can't afford the upkeep of their mansions and who knows, they're probably passing other people's babies off as their own. We've all heard the rumours about Prince Harry. Anyway, I'm off to buy a fan now that I am schooled in fan etiquette.
An entertaining film with funny moments and special mention must be given to Constance Collier on this front. Hilarious. We know that Goddard and Milland are destined for each other but what are the circumstances that are going to bring this about? We get humour, drama and even a body count! The cast are all on form – probably the worst thing is Goddard's cockney accent but she does not keep it up for the duration of the film. It's a "My Fair Lady" type of story but much better than that film. None of those talking songs, either.
Things haven't changed much in London – it's still a slum, the aristocracy is still broke and can't afford the upkeep of their mansions and who knows, they're probably passing other people's babies off as their own. We've all heard the rumours about Prince Harry. Anyway, I'm off to buy a fan now that I am schooled in fan etiquette.