Strictly average movie

I like Black Panther, but I didn't like this movie.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Blistering performances.

Just in time for Christmas comes a DVD available from the UK, of one of the really great Christmas film gems 'The Holly and the Ivy'. Set in a Norfolk rectory its evocation of a post-war Christmas is brought to life by the playing of Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson as the daughter. It holds no cinematic tricks and as such is just a faithful filming of a stage success. It's strength lies in the wonderful interplay between the divergent characters all coming together to spend Christmas in the Norfolk rectory. The two aunts played by Margaret Halstan and Maureen Delany are quite delightful and almost steal the show.A young Denholm Elliott is to be seen in an early role and Margaret Leighton gives a very moving performance. Just to hear the English language spoken so well by a first class cast is a joy. I love this film and will keep this one to play over the Christams period.

I recently acquired a DVD copy of this film from a rare video dealer and agree that availability is a problem for connoisseurs of this genre.I heartily agree with the post of Rosalind Jane and would much prefer films like this at Christmas rather than watching the usual modern boring obsession with " the cult of celebrity" by TV companies.Trouble is today, there are too many vested commercial interests keeping mediocre talent in active employment in films.As I am 61 years old I am not in the right socio-economic group for profit hungry advertisers/TV companies (and even the ratings conscious BBC), as they are too obsessed by the 20/30 year old market with its higher spending potential.Most of the time us older viewers do not get much of a look in so must resort to seeking out and collecting advert free dvds of our favourite films. "Writers Reign" post "The Last Noel" effectively deals with the plot so I won't embellish further on that but provide my own comment.The most emotional scene for me was Margaret Leighton telling her father, Ralph Richardson, about her 4 year old son Simon, who then died of meningitis, whom she bore out of wedlock.Post war Britain was indeed in a rather depressing,impoverished state and the mores and customs very different from the present day.Why on some council estates its almost something to be proud of and de rigeur for teenage pregnancies and "going on the social".Of course "The Holly and the Ivy", made in 1952, depicts a very middle class family so the stigma and social disgrace would have been all the more than would have been the case for say a working class family.This film was based on the play so beloved of amateur dramatic societies in the late 40s and early 50s.Indeed my late parents appeared in this play with their society.During this time there was still great pressure on unmarried daughters to look after their elderly parents.This play was set long before women had equal legal and social rights as men and society expected women to fill the social breach when necessary.If this play had been about a working class family, it would not have been quite so shocking to sensitive middle class eyes.Unfortunately working class playwrights were still some years in the future so one is left with the middle class writing for the middle class.I rated it 7/10.

As various members of the Gregory family gather for Christmas, secrets are revealed and tempers flare.Clunky editing, theatrical directing and ridiculous casting choices should leave this film a creaky and dated mess, yet somehow it radiates a seasonal (and very British) charm. Richardson is hilariously miscast as the Gregory patriarch, donning 'old man' make-up and wandering in and out of a dodgy Oirish accent. As his 31 year old daughter Jenny, 43 year old Johnson fares better, convincing and always watchable as the dutiful child resigning herself to a future of servility. 30 year old Elliot is astonishingly youthful as twenty-something son Mick, and 30 year old Leighton captivating as troubled daughter Margaret.Obviously an adaptation from the stage, many of the scenes play like theatre, although all credit to the cast for mostly toning done the theatrics. Best moment? Margaret telling Jenny about the tragedies of her life as they wash up after Christmas Eve dinner. Leighton and Johnson beautifully convey the shock and grief of Margaret's story, Johnson particularly fine as she reacts to the dreadful story, allowing surprise and delight turn to horror.Yes The Holly And The Ivy is from another age, yes it has a theatrical flavour, yes Richardson is obviously far too young to play the elderly parson... nevertheless it remains a charming and quite moving seasonal favourite of mine.

"The Holly and the Ivy" is the only realistic Christmas movie of the 1950's. It tells the story of an English minister, Ralph Richardson, and his three conflicted adult children: Margaret Leighton, Celia, Johnson, and Denholm Elliott. Everybody in the cast does a great acting job. This is Mr. Richardson's last great role as a leading man in a movie. The story is like riding a roller coaster. Christmas should be a calm time for families, but it is not for this English family. This movie is a forgotten gem.