Miss Grant Goes to the Door
Encyclopedia
Miss Grant Goes to the Door was a short propaganda film made for the British Ministry of Information in 1940. It was directed by Brian Desmond Hurst
and starred Mary Clare
and Martita Hunt
as two sisters, Caroline and Edith Grant, who have to deal with two invading Germans who arrive at their cottage. The film addressed the threat of invasion, and was intended to inspire confidence and convey the message 'Keep your heads'.
) and Edith Grant (Martita Hunt
) preparing to shelter in their cellar following an air raid
warning. When a man in uniform collapses outside their cottage, they bring him into their home and lay him down on their sofa. When he dies, they realise that the man is a German parachutist and, hearing the church bells tolling to warn of invasion, Caroline takes his revolver from him.
Soon afterwards, a British army officer arrives asking for a map to help him find his unit. In reality, however, this is a German spy, who is exposed when mis-pronouncing 'Jarvis Hill' as 'Yarvis Hill'. Caroline turns the dead parachutist's revolver on him and guards him, while sending Edith to seek assistance from the ARP
. When Edith informs the ARP warden of the situation, he calls the Local Defence Volunteers (Home Guard), interrupting a lecture on German parachutists.
The film returns to the Grants' cottage, where the spy engineers his escape from Caroline by asking her for a cigarette. While she finds one, he knocks the gun out of her hands and flees the cottage. His flight is short-lived, however, because the Grants have immobilised their car and locked up their spare bicycle. He is thus apprehended by the LDV, who also destroy a parachute weapons canister. The final scene depicts the Grants thanking a member of the LDV over a cup of tea in their cottage, and he commends their actions with the words: 'You kept your heads. The front line is in every home nowadays'.
The film was produced quickly, which was necessary if its content was to be relevant. It was completed on 2 July and released on 5 August 1940. Nevertheless, by the time of its release, there were already errors in it: The LDV had been renamed the 'Home Guard' and the threat of invasion was receding.
considered the film 'too frightening'
Brian Desmond Hurst
thumb|right|200px|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]Brian Desmond Hurst was a Belfast-born film director. Responsible for over 30 movies as director, Hurst was Ireland's most prolific movie director during the 20th century.-Early life:Hurst was born Hans Hurst in Ribble Street, East Belfast"". into a...
and starred Mary Clare
Mary Clare
Mary Clare was a British actress who performed in films, on the stage, and later on television.-Biography:...
and Martita Hunt
Martita Hunt
Martita Hunt was an English theatre and film actress.-Early life:Hunt was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 30 January 1900 to British parents Alfred and Marta Hunt...
as two sisters, Caroline and Edith Grant, who have to deal with two invading Germans who arrive at their cottage. The film addressed the threat of invasion, and was intended to inspire confidence and convey the message 'Keep your heads'.
Plot
The film opens with sisters Caroline (Mary ClareMary Clare
Mary Clare was a British actress who performed in films, on the stage, and later on television.-Biography:...
) and Edith Grant (Martita Hunt
Martita Hunt
Martita Hunt was an English theatre and film actress.-Early life:Hunt was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on 30 January 1900 to British parents Alfred and Marta Hunt...
) preparing to shelter in their cellar following an air raid
Strategic bombing
Strategic bombing is a military strategy used in a total war with the goal of defeating an enemy nation-state by destroying its economic ability and public will to wage war rather than destroying its land or naval forces...
warning. When a man in uniform collapses outside their cottage, they bring him into their home and lay him down on their sofa. When he dies, they realise that the man is a German parachutist and, hearing the church bells tolling to warn of invasion, Caroline takes his revolver from him.
Soon afterwards, a British army officer arrives asking for a map to help him find his unit. In reality, however, this is a German spy, who is exposed when mis-pronouncing 'Jarvis Hill' as 'Yarvis Hill'. Caroline turns the dead parachutist's revolver on him and guards him, while sending Edith to seek assistance from the ARP
Air Raid Precautions
Air Raid Precautions was an organisation in the United Kingdom set up as an aid in the prelude to the Second World War dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air-raids. It was created in 1924 as a response to the fears about the growing threat from the development of bomber...
. When Edith informs the ARP warden of the situation, he calls the Local Defence Volunteers (Home Guard), interrupting a lecture on German parachutists.
The film returns to the Grants' cottage, where the spy engineers his escape from Caroline by asking her for a cigarette. While she finds one, he knocks the gun out of her hands and flees the cottage. His flight is short-lived, however, because the Grants have immobilised their car and locked up their spare bicycle. He is thus apprehended by the LDV, who also destroy a parachute weapons canister. The final scene depicts the Grants thanking a member of the LDV over a cup of tea in their cottage, and he commends their actions with the words: 'You kept your heads. The front line is in every home nowadays'.
Production and background
Miss Grant Goes to the Door was one of a number of films which addressed the threat of invasion, with the intention of being both instructional and reassuring. The film thus includes many details which demonstrated the importance of following the advice that had been issued by the Ministry of Information. Citizens were to follow the example of the Grants and immobilise their vehicles, keep maps locked away and refuse to give geographical information to strangers. The Grants also keep the spy talking, which exposes him as a German. The LDV's concluding words to the Grants, 'You kept your heads', also reflected advice given to citizens in Ministry of Information leaflets.The film was produced quickly, which was necessary if its content was to be relevant. It was completed on 2 July and released on 5 August 1940. Nevertheless, by the time of its release, there were already errors in it: The LDV had been renamed the 'Home Guard' and the threat of invasion was receding.
Reception
Overall, the film was a success and well-liked for its drama. However, the film was less well-received in terms of its instructional element. Reviewers highlighted the fact that the film was flawed in terms of the advice it offered because 'most of us have no revolvers' and in the event of invasion, they could not rely on dead Germans to supply them. Some members of the War OfficeWar Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
considered the film 'too frightening'