No Place for Jennifer

Excellent movie about the effect divorce has on a child.In this day and age,with people divorcing all over the place,it looks dated but still a powerhouse performance from Janette Scott who was 10 years old then. It must be one of first movies dealing with child trauma and therapy,also introducing modern,at the time, methods of dealing with child-neuroses. Well directed and photographed,all the cast does a good job but special notice to child actor Brian Smith who plays Martin ,Jennifer's friend. Supposedly was a hit in its day,and made a big name in UK of its star but her later career was not as successful.Still more than worthwhile watching if only for Janette who shines here.

Adults always set themselves up on such a pedestal that growing up usually proves a huge disappointment when you see the dishonest and juvenile way that adults actually behave towards one another.

'No Place for Jennifer' unsparingly depicts the lax morals of postwar Britain in the hedonism and vindictiveness of the mother, and it is the visit to a courthouse rather than to the institution for disturbed tots that sends Jennifer - a magnificent performance by the young Janette Scott - off the rails and out on to the streets where a dirty old man follows her off the Tube and a snack bar proprietor tries to short-change her. Fortunately not all adults eventually prove so corrupt, but it's a close-run thing.

Jeannette Scott plays the title role in a very assured manner.However the film itself has dated badly.Though it wads very topical at the time of release.I think that a similar but far better film is the 1934Little Friend starring Nova Pilbeam.The only worthwhile sequence is the last fifteen minutes when Jennifer is on the run from the court and her bickering parents.

I saw this movie in 1961 on ABC TV in Australia. I was 11 years old and lived with my parent on a farm west of Brisbane. It was in black and white and because we generated our own electricity from the wind back then we were lucky to see the movie through to the end. No wind meant low battery levels and the screen kept shrinking in at the sides.

However I was old enough to get the message. One of the local farmers had divorced a few years prior to that and was left with his somewhat socially immature daughter who was often bullied.

I saw what happened to her and after viewing the movie swore that that was never going to happen to me.

I married, had a daughter but alas....that is just what did happen to me!

Jeff jeffscanlan49@gmail.com Feel free to email me

This 71 year old can still remember those austere early 1950s days of Britain with its bomb damage and food rationing.I was a 4 year old when this film was made and it had a resonant effect on me.Whenever I see a film with Rosamund John ("The First of the Few", "The Way to the Stars" "Green for Danger" etc) I think of my dear late mother and the way she used to look.The acting credit must go to the girl who played Jennifer in the central role and to the producer who was responsible for an intelligent screenplay and for highlighting the psychological effect divorce has on the children of divorcing parents.The danger of accepting sweets from possible paedophiles was examined and the love of true friends in this case a young schoolboy who befriends Jennifer.I applaud this film which I had not previously seen and the lessons drawn which are still relevant today, and I awarded it 9/10.