Turn the Key Softly
Encyclopedia
Turn the Key Softly is a 1953
British drama film, directed by Jack Lee
and starring Yvonne Mitchell
, Joan Collins
, Kathleen Harrison
and Terence Morgan
. Lee and producer Maurice Cowan also wrote the screenplay, based on the novel of the same name by John Brophy, dealing with the first 24 hours of freedom for three women released on probation from prison on the same morning.
together at the end of their respective sentences. Monica Marsden (Mitchell) is a well-bred young woman, led into the world of crime by her smooth-talking but crooked lover David (Terence Morgan
), who martyred herself by taking the fall for a crime he masterminded; Stella Jarvis (Collins) is a beautiful working-class girl who found her attractive appearance made West End prostitution a source of easy money before being imprisoned after disregarding numerous cautions for soliciting; Mrs. Quilliam (Harrison) is a kindly elderly widow living in poverty and jailed for repeat shoplifting offences. Monica proposes that the three should meet up later for dinner for which she will pay, to discuss how their first day of freedom has gone. Events before and after the dinner are explored as the film switches focus between each protagonist and how they set about picking up their lives.
During her incarceration, Monica has had time to reflect and initially is full of thoughts of vengeance towards David for allowing her to take the blame while he walked away scot free. When she meets up with him however, she finds her old feelings returning with a vengeance and starts once again to fall under his spell. Stella is full of good intentions to get back on track and turn her life around, away from the lure of her previous sordid but lucrative profession. Mrs. Quilliam, disregarded and ignored by her family, returns to her spartan home, consoled by the mongrel dog she loves and regards as the most important presence in her life. Over the course of 24 hours, each faces a struggle with herself to avoid a quick return to her recidivist ways. David still exerts a powerful hold over Monica; Stella, despite herself, is drawn back to her old haunts and their promise of maximum financial gain for least endeavour; Mrs. Quilliam has no money but somehow has to provide for herself and the dog. By the next day, two of the women have succeeded in resisting the temptations put in their path, but the third finds herself back behind bars in the most ironic of circumstances.
New York Times critic A. W. wrote: "Turn the Key Softly...is pointedly realistic about its stigmatized principals. And, while this examination of the short courses of the lives of three ladies of varying degree after they have left London's Holloway Prison, is not precisely on a heroic scale, the producers have endowed the proceedings with compassion, sensitivity and a modicum of irony. Credit Jack Lee and Maurice Cowan,...with keeping their heroines on the move without snarling this traffic in tales. (They) see the ladies through with honest results. Yvonne Mitchell...brings attractiveness and understanding to the role. Joan Collins is properly lush and brassy as the Cockney charmer. However, Kathleen Harrison...contributes the film's top portrayal. She makes the loneliness of the poor and unwanted strikingly real." Film critic of the Pittsburgh Press
, Henry Ward, said: "Turn the Key Softly is the kind of movie that apparently can only be made in Britain. It is a warm, sympathetic sort of movie that is sentimental without being sticky or maudlin, a well-paced melodrama that never falls back on over-dramatics for effect." He described Mitchell as "appealing", Collins as "excellent" and Harrison as "superb", concluding that the film "came to our town with a minimum of fanfare. It doesn't need it. It has a good story told with fine acting."
1953 in film
The year 1953 in film involved some significant events.-Events:*September 16 — The Robe debuts as the first anamorphic, widescreen CinemaScope film.-Top grossing films : After theatrical re-issue- Awards :Academy Awards:A...
British drama film, directed by Jack Lee
Jack Lee (film director)
Jack Lee was a film director, writer, editor and producer.Wilfred John Raymond Lee was born in the village of Slad near Stroud in Gloucestershire...
and starring Yvonne Mitchell
Yvonne Mitchell
Yvonne Mitchell was an English stage, television and film actor. She was born Yvonne Frances Joseph, but in 1946 changed her name by deed poll to Yvonne Mitchell . Her mother's maiden name was Mitchell. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s...
, Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
, Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen Harrison
Kathleen Harrison was a prolific English character actress best remembered for her role as Mrs. Huggett in a trio of British post-war comedies about a working class family's misadventures. To modern viewers she is better remembered as Mrs...
and Terence Morgan
Terence Morgan
Terence Ivor Grant Morgan was an English actor in theatre, cinema and television. He was the nephew of British character actor Verne Morgan...
. Lee and producer Maurice Cowan also wrote the screenplay, based on the novel of the same name by John Brophy, dealing with the first 24 hours of freedom for three women released on probation from prison on the same morning.
Plot
Three women of widely differing backgrounds walk out of the gates of London's Holloway PrisonHolloway (HM Prison)
HM Prison Holloway is a closed category prison for adult women and Young Offenders, located in the Holloway area of the London Borough of Islington, in north and Inner London, England...
together at the end of their respective sentences. Monica Marsden (Mitchell) is a well-bred young woman, led into the world of crime by her smooth-talking but crooked lover David (Terence Morgan
Terence Morgan
Terence Ivor Grant Morgan was an English actor in theatre, cinema and television. He was the nephew of British character actor Verne Morgan...
), who martyred herself by taking the fall for a crime he masterminded; Stella Jarvis (Collins) is a beautiful working-class girl who found her attractive appearance made West End prostitution a source of easy money before being imprisoned after disregarding numerous cautions for soliciting; Mrs. Quilliam (Harrison) is a kindly elderly widow living in poverty and jailed for repeat shoplifting offences. Monica proposes that the three should meet up later for dinner for which she will pay, to discuss how their first day of freedom has gone. Events before and after the dinner are explored as the film switches focus between each protagonist and how they set about picking up their lives.
During her incarceration, Monica has had time to reflect and initially is full of thoughts of vengeance towards David for allowing her to take the blame while he walked away scot free. When she meets up with him however, she finds her old feelings returning with a vengeance and starts once again to fall under his spell. Stella is full of good intentions to get back on track and turn her life around, away from the lure of her previous sordid but lucrative profession. Mrs. Quilliam, disregarded and ignored by her family, returns to her spartan home, consoled by the mongrel dog she loves and regards as the most important presence in her life. Over the course of 24 hours, each faces a struggle with herself to avoid a quick return to her recidivist ways. David still exerts a powerful hold over Monica; Stella, despite herself, is drawn back to her old haunts and their promise of maximum financial gain for least endeavour; Mrs. Quilliam has no money but somehow has to provide for herself and the dog. By the next day, two of the women have succeeded in resisting the temptations put in their path, but the third finds herself back behind bars in the most ironic of circumstances.
Reception
Turn the Key Softly received very positive reviews from contemporary critics, who noted with approval its realism and honesty; also its avoidance of the twin pitfalls in a storyline of this nature of either overly sentimentalising its characters or attempting to spice up proceedings with over-the-top melodrama or unnecessary plot twists and digressions. All three leading actresses were praised for their portrayals, with Harrison in particular singled out as giving a memorable and touching performance. Only a fall-back on coincidence as a plot device was mentioned as a minor weakness.New York Times critic A. W. wrote: "Turn the Key Softly...is pointedly realistic about its stigmatized principals. And, while this examination of the short courses of the lives of three ladies of varying degree after they have left London's Holloway Prison, is not precisely on a heroic scale, the producers have endowed the proceedings with compassion, sensitivity and a modicum of irony. Credit Jack Lee and Maurice Cowan,...with keeping their heroines on the move without snarling this traffic in tales. (They) see the ladies through with honest results. Yvonne Mitchell...brings attractiveness and understanding to the role. Joan Collins is properly lush and brassy as the Cockney charmer. However, Kathleen Harrison...contributes the film's top portrayal. She makes the loneliness of the poor and unwanted strikingly real." Film critic of the Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh Press
The Pittsburgh Press is an online newspaper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, currently owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Historically, it was a major afternoon paper...
, Henry Ward, said: "Turn the Key Softly is the kind of movie that apparently can only be made in Britain. It is a warm, sympathetic sort of movie that is sentimental without being sticky or maudlin, a well-paced melodrama that never falls back on over-dramatics for effect." He described Mitchell as "appealing", Collins as "excellent" and Harrison as "superb", concluding that the film "came to our town with a minimum of fanfare. It doesn't need it. It has a good story told with fine acting."
Cast
- Yvonne MitchellYvonne MitchellYvonne Mitchell was an English stage, television and film actor. She was born Yvonne Frances Joseph, but in 1946 changed her name by deed poll to Yvonne Mitchell . Her mother's maiden name was Mitchell. After beginning her acting career in theatre, Mitchell progressed to films in the late 1940s...
as Monica Marsden - Terence MorganTerence MorganTerence Ivor Grant Morgan was an English actor in theatre, cinema and television. He was the nephew of British character actor Verne Morgan...
as David - Joan CollinsJoan CollinsJoan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
as Stella Jarvis - Kathleen HarrisonKathleen HarrisonKathleen Harrison was a prolific English character actress best remembered for her role as Mrs. Huggett in a trio of British post-war comedies about a working class family's misadventures. To modern viewers she is better remembered as Mrs...
as Mrs. Quilliam - Thora HirdThora HirdDame Thora Hird DBE was an English actress.-Early life and career:Hird was born in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe. She first appeared on stage at the age of two months in a play her father was managing...
as Mrs. Rowan - Dorothy AlisonDorothy AlisonDorothy Alison was an Australian stage, film and television actress.She was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia, and was educated at Sydney Girls High School. She moved to London, England in 1949 to further her career...
as Joan - Glyn HoustonGlyn HoustonGlyn Houston , is an actor best known for his television work. He is the brother of the late film actor Donald Houston.-Early life:...
as Bob
- Geoffrey KeenGeoffrey KeenGeoffrey Keen was an English actor who appeared in supporting roles in many famous films.-Early life:Keen was born in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England, the son of stage actor Malcolm Keen. He was educated at Bristol Grammar School. He then joined the Little Repertory Theatre in Bristol for whom...
as Mr. Gregory - Russell WatersRussell WatersRussell Waters was a Scottish film actor.Waters was educated at Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow and the University of Glasgow. He began acting with the Old English Comedy and Shakespeare Company then appeared in repertory theatre, at the Old Vic and in the West End. On screen Waters generally...
as George Jenkins - Clive MortonClive MortonClive Morton was an English actor who made many screen appearances, especially on television. In 1955, he appeared in Laurence Olivier's Richard III and is recalled by fans of Doctor Who for his role as Trenchard in The Sea Devils in 1972...
as Walters - Richard MassinghamRichard MassinghamRichard Massingham was a British actor who is principally noted for starring in public information films made in the 1940s and early 1950s.-Life:...
as Bystander - Hilda FenemoreHilda FenemoreHilda Lilian Fenemore was an English actress with a prolific career in film and television from the 1940s to the 1990s...
as Mrs. Quilliam's Daughter - Simone SilvaSimone SilvaSimone Silva was an Egyptian-born French film actress who appeared in a handful of British B-movies during the 1950s. Silva, who was once quoted as saying she would "do anything" to get in the newspapers, was known however less for her acting than for her voluptuous figure and shameless...
as Marie - Toke TownleyToke TownleyToke Antony Townley, born 6 November 1912 in Great Dunmow, died 27 September 1984 in Leeds, was an English actor.-Biography:His father was a vicar and he was christened John Townley, but his first name was then changed by his parents to the surname of an ancestor. After he left school he worked as...
as Prison Guard
External links
- Turn the Key Softly at BFI Film & TV Database