Genevieve (film)

Genevieve
Original 1953 film poster
Directed by	Henry Cornelius
Produced by	Henry Cornelius
Written by	William Rose
Starring	Dinah Sheridan John Gregson Kay Kendall Kenneth More
Music by	Larry Adler
Cinematography	Christopher Challis
Edited by	Clive Donner
Production company	Rank Organisation
Distributed by	GDF (UK) Universal-International (US)
Release dates	July 1953 (1953-07) (UK) 16 February 1954 (1954-02-16) (US)
Running time	86 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English

Genevieve is a 1953 British comedy film produced and directed by Henry Cornelius and written by William Rose. It stars John Gregson, Dinah Sheridan, Kenneth More and Kay Kendall as two couples comedically involved in a veteran automobile rally. The main theme of the musical score was composed and performed by Larry Adler. Composer Graham Whettam was commissioned to write the orchestral score incorporating Larry Adler's tune. Dance numbers were added by Eric Rogers.

Plot

The comedic tone was established by the following disclaimer at the end of the opening credits:

For their patient co-operation the makers of this film express their thanks to the officers and members of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain. Any resemblance between the deportment of our characters and any club members is emphatically denied—by the Club.^[1]

This was meant to underscore the fact that the actual event portrayed in the film was, as stated in its Official Entry Regulations, "NOT A RACE."^[2]

The story revolves around two veteran cars and their crews participating in the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. Alan McKim (John Gregson), a young barrister, and his wife, Wendy (Dinah Sheridan), drive Genevieve, a 1904 Darracq. Their friend Ambrose Claverhouse (Kenneth More), a brash advertising salesman, his latest girlfriend, fashion model Rosalind Peters (Kay Kendall) and her pet St. Bernard ride in a 1905 Spyker.^[3]

The journey to Brighton goes well for Claverhouse, but the McKims' trip is complicated by several breakdowns, and they arrive very late. As Alan cancelled their accommodation in their usual plush hotel during a fit of pique, they are forced to spend the night in a dingy run-down hotel (with a noteworthy cameo performance by Joyce Grenfell as the proprietress) leaving Wendy feeling less than pleased.

They finally join Ambrose and Rosalind for after-dinner drinks, but Rosalind gets very drunk, and insists on playing the trumpet with the house band. To the surprise of all, she performs a hot jazz solo before falling fast asleep moments later, to Wendy's great amusement. (Kendall mimes the performance of "Genevieve" to a rendition by jazz trumpeter Kenny Baker.)

Alan and Wendy have an argument over Ambrose's supposed romantic attentions to her, and Alan goes off to the garage to sulk. Whilst working on his car in the middle of the night, Ambrose turns up. Angry words are exchanged and Alan impulsively bets Ambrose one hundred pounds that he can beat Ambrose back to London, despite racing not being allowed by the club. Ambrose accepts the bet—"First over Westminster Bridge."

The following morning, despite Rosalind's massive hangover and Wendy's determined disapproval of the whole business, the two crews race back to London. Each driver is determined that his car is the better, come what may, and they both resort to various forms of cheating. Ambrose sabotages Alan's engine, and Alan causes Ambrose to be stopped by the police.

Finally, on the outskirts of London (West Drayton), both cars are stopped by traffic police and the four contestants are publicly warned after Alan and Ambrose come to blows. At Wendy's insistence, they decide to call off the bet and have a party instead. But whilst waiting for the public house to open, words are exchanged and the bet is on again.

The two cars race neck-and-neck through the southern suburbs of London. But with only a few yards to go, Genevieve breaks down. As Ambrose's car is about to overtake it, its tyres become stuck in tramlines (London's tram network had closed in 1952 but many of the tracks were still in evidence when the film was made the following year) and it drives off in another direction. The brakes on Genevieve fail and the car rolls a few yards onto Westminster Bridge, thus winning the bet.

Cast

Production

Kenneth More was approached by Henry Cornelius to play his role while appearing in the enormously successful production of The Deep Blue Sea. More says Cornelius never saw him in the play but cast him on the basis of his work in an earlier movie, The Galloping Major. More's fee was £3,500.^[4]

Rutland Mews South, SW7, was used as the location for the home of Alan and Wendy McKim during the filming of Genevieve.^[5]

Cars

The 1905 Spyker 12/16-HP Double Phæton that was used as Ambrose Claverhouse's car in the film. As of 2012 this car is held in the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands, along with Genevieve. A still from the film can be seen in the background

The script originally called for the rivals to be driving British cars, Alan McKim a Wolseley or Humber and Ambrose Claverhouse a Lanchester. No owners of such cars were willing to lend them for filming, and eventually Norman Reeves loaned his Darracq and Frank Reese his Spyker.^[6] The Darracq was originally named "Annie", but was permanently renamed "Genevieve" after the film's success. Genevieve returned from a 34-year visit to Australia in 1992, and takes part in the London-Brighton Run every year. In July 2002, Genevieve and another Spyker participated in a 50th anniversary rally touring the filming locations.^[7] Both Genevieve and Ambrose Claverhouse's Spyker are, as of 2012, on display at the Louwman Museum in The Hague.

Release and awards

The film was the second-most-popular at the British box office in 1953.^[8]

The film won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film and was nominated for Best British Actor (Kenneth More) and Best Film from any Source. It won a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Film and National Board of Review award for Top Foreign Film.

It was nominated for Best Original Screenplay (William Rose) and Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

References

External links

• Genevieve Web Site.
• Genevieve at the Internet Movie Database
• Crowther, Bosley. "THE SCREEN IN REVIEW," The New York Times, Tuesday, February 16, 1954.