Rent The Card (1952)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- A precocious child who has grown into a cheeky charmer, ambitious Denry Machin (Alec Guinness) relishes the challenge of surmounting social and other barriers with his amiably affectionate personality. But while his social climbing continues apace, he soon meets his match when it comes to women!
- Actors:
- Alec Guinness, Glynis Johns, Valerie Hobson, Petula Clark, Edward Chapman, Veronica Turleigh, George Devine, Joan Hickson, Frank Pettingell, Gibb McLaughlin, Joey the Mule, Peter Copley, Mark Daly, Deidre Doyle, Henry Edwards, Lyn Evans, Andrew Faulds, Tom Gill, Harold Goodwin, Matthew Guinness
- Directors:
- Ronald Neame
- Producers:
- John Bryan
- Writers:
- Arnold Bennett, Eric Ambler
- Others:
- Pinewood Studios Sound Department
- Aka:
- The Promoter
- Studio:
- Network
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like The Magic Box, All the Twos: 1902-62, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., Glynis & Angela: Ninetysomething Marvels, A Brief History of Film..., Top 10 British Actresses of the 1940s, Top Films
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 27/04/2020
- Run Time:
- 91 minutes
- Languages:
- English Dolby Digital 1.0, English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Theatrical Trailer
- Image Gallery
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Reviews (1) of The Card
Excellent Potteries-set 1952 film with Alec Guinness & the first on-screen use of a Clubcard! - The Card review by PV
This is a great fun film, vaguely reminiscent of the classic film Hobson's Choice based on the 1915 play.
It is basically a rags to riches trope, with morality, guilt and women thrown in, and social class of course - the great obsession of most British films esp comedies (until the recent import of US-style race obsession. Not progress then).
Petula Clark, famous singer of Downtown, stars here aged 20 - she is now 90 and still performing and recording.
There is also stalwart of 1950s films Wilfred Hyde-White (uncredited).
Yes, some bits are dated and owe a lot to the silent era, esp the mule scenes.
But i really enjoyed this good solid film, with morals, fun, and some great lines.
AND the CLUBCARD is mentioned - the title refers to that local shop buying scheme and also the main character, which is both likeable and unlikeable, so more three-dimensional than most main characters, even now.
4 stars