The Card

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The Card is a short comedic novel written by Arnold Bennett in 1911. It was later made into a 1952 movie starring Alec Guinness and Petula Clark. It chronicles the rise of Edward Henry ("Denry") Machin from washerwoman's son to Mayor of Bursley (a fictitious town based on Burslem). This is accomplished through luck, initiative and a fair bit of chutzpah.

[edit] Plot summary

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

At age 12, Dendry begins his career by altering his grade in a class enough to earn him a scholarship to grammar school. At 16, he leaves school to work for Mr. Duncalf, the town clerk and a solicitor. Duncalf is responsible for organizing an exclusive ball; Dendry "invites" himself and a few others who do him favors, among them Ruth Earp, a dance instructor. On a bet, he audaciously dances with the energetic, beautiful Countess of Chell (of whom everyone, including Machin, is in awe), thus earning himself the reputation of a "card" (a "character", someone able to set tongues wagging) - a reputation he is determined to cement.

Later, when a disgruntled client is treated brusquely by Duncalf, Dendry leaves his employ after persuading her to hire him as a rent collector. When some of the tenants fall behind, he begins loaning them money (at a highly profitable interest rate). Ruth herself is several months behind on her rent and tries to sneak away in the middle of the night. Dendry catches her by accident, but rather than being angry, he admires her audacity and he starts courting her.

While on vacation at the seaside resort town of Llandudno with Ruth and her friend Nellie Cotterill, he witnesses a shipwreck and the rescue of the sailors. Noting the interest generated, he buys a lifeboat, hires some of the stranded mariners as rowers, and conducts tours of the picturesque wreck. During the trip however, Ruth's spendthrift nature becomes alarmingly apparent and they break off their relationship.

By the end of the summer, Dendry has made a substantial profit from the sightseers, which he uses to finance his boldest venture. He starts up the Five Towns Universal Thrift Club. Members deposit money little by little; once they have accumulated half the sum they need to purchase whatever it is they want, the club allows them to buy on credit, but only from stores associated with the club. Dendry makes money by getting a discount from the vendors in return for access to his large customer base. When his capital starts to run out, he arranges an "accident" for the Countess's coach. He drives conveniently by and gives her a lift to an urgent appointment. On the way there, he talks her into becoming the club's sponsor, ensuring easy financing. This proves to be the making of Dendry's fortune.

With his great success, he is appointed a town councillor. He also backs a new daily newspaper (to be bought out at a profit by its established rival to keep its monopoly) and tricks his obstinate mother into moving into a luxurious new house. At this point, Ruth reappears in Dendry's life, now the widow of a rich older man. He considers reviving their relationship, but at the last moment, realizes that Nellie is the one for him and marries her. The crowning achievement comes when Dendry decides to become the youngest mayor in the history of Bursley. He arranges this by purchasing the rights to native son Callear, the "greatest centre forward in England", for the failing local football (soccer) club, thereby cementing his popularity.

His antics are regarded with affection and admiration by most others, as show by the book's final exchange:

"What a card!" said one, laughing joyously. "He's a rare 'un, no mistake."

"Of course, this'll make him more popular than ever," said another. "We've never had a man to touch him for that."

"And yet," demanded Councillor Barlow, "what's he done? Has he ever done a day's work in his life? What great cause is he identified with?"

"He's identified," said the speaker, "with the great cause of cheering us all up."

Spoilers end here.

[edit] Adaptions

Petula Clark and Alec Guinness

A black-and-white film version (entitled The Promoter for its American audience) was released in 1952, adapted by Eric Ambler and directed by Ronald Neame. It starred Alec Guinness as Dendry Machin, Petula Clark as Nellie Cotterill, Valerie Hobson as the Countess, and Glynis Johns as Ruth Earp. The movie was mostly faithful to the novel, though it omitted the newspaper caper, Dendry outmaneuvering his mother into moving, and a few other minor misadventures not noted in this article. It was filmed in Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent.

For Guinness, playing the romantic lead was a departure from his previously comic roles, and the film was one of the first adult screen roles for Clark who, as the hero's intended bride, got her first screen kiss. Clark also recorded a vocal version of the film's theme, with lyrics by her long-term accompanist, Joe "Mr Piano" Henderson.

In 1975, the songwriting (and married) team of Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent composed the score for a musical stage version in London's West End. Its book was by Keith Waterhouse and Willis Hall, and the production starred Jim Dale and Millicent Martin in the lead roles. (Coincidentally, Hatch and Trent wrote a considerable number of Clark's pop hits in the 1960s and '70s.) Although not a huge success, an original cast album was released, and one of the show's tunes, Nothing Succeeds Like Success, was recorded by Clark as one of her album tracks.