Women of Twilight

Creaky British drama set in a boarding house for single mothers that takes its time to get going, but builds up quite a head of steam in its' final act thanks to a wonderfully sinister performance from Freda Jackson as the outwardly benign head of a baby selling racket.

When Freda Jackson's boyfriend, Laurence Harvey, is arrested and eventually found guilty of murder, she's left to deal with her pregnancy alone. Tossed out of his quarters, she finds a lodging house where the landlady runs several related rackets, including baby farming.

This movie has the distinction of being the first British film to be awarded an X certificate (no one under 16 admitted). It's quite frank for its era, with the women -- including Renee Ray, Lois Maxwell, and Clare James -- offering a melancholy bunch of losers. Cheaply directed by Gordon Parry, it offers a compassionate script by Anatole de Grunwald. It's depressing and not my cup of tea, but quite good in its own tawdry way.

Other than for the presence of Laurence Harvey in a supporting role, Twilight Women would be long forgotten today. Some interesting performances characterize this film about a topic that would be seldom mentioned on the Code driven American cinema.

The topic is unwed mothers and Freda Jackson's home for them in London. An outwardly charitable woman, Jackson is quite ruthless and a touch mad as her only interest is getting control of the infants and selling them on the black market. And of course staying way below the radar of law enforcement and social welfare.

Harvey is the criminal father of Rene Ray's baby and is scheduled to hang for a murder which he does. Ray's struggle to survive against Jackson is what drives the film. Jackson however gets the kudos, you will not soon forget that woman. It's what gives this rather cheap production the reason to see it.

Oddball British import, circa 1953. I'm not sure where this tricky flick would be shown in 1950's USA as it apparently was (Lippert Distributers). After all, it's about unwed mothers getting sanctuary in a run-down apartment run by a sinister landlady (Jackson). The whole topic of pregnancy was a touchy one in an age when not even Lucille Ball could say the word "pregnant" on TV's I Love Lucy. Still, the topic is soft-balled in the movie, such that the more pejorative aspects of unwed motherhood are elided, which may have made it more acceptable to US audiences.

Anyway, the narrative mainly occupies interactions between the women, with men hardly seen at all, including future star Harvey who gets only brief screentime. Then too, there's no attempt to glamorize or even prettify the girls. The plot itself develops into a growing bond between wounded-soul Vivianne (Ray) and kindly lady-like Christine (Maxwell). It's Ray's various shades of inner suffering that carry the drama, which she does quite well. At the same time, I couldn't help noticing how much the film resembles a women's prison flick with Nellie (Jackson) as the slyly cruel warden and the girls struggling to just get by. In fact, the crafty Nellie only houses the desperate girls in grim conditions so she can sell their wedlock babies. Oh my.

On the whole, it's a well-acted 90-minutes on a touchy subject that refuses to glamorize in any fashion. Thus, for all its interesting aspects, the movie's probably not a good choice if you're feeling need for uplifting eye-appeal.

IN 1952 I was 10 and have no idea if either of my parents saw this film ? I had never heard of this title as a theatrical production either ! As outdated as this monochrome screenplay is , for me it definitely made an important theme powerful enough to meet today's Standards of story telling . As horrific as the evil perpetrated by adults and even children on children which still perpetuates modern Society in 2019 this story is undoubtedly relevant . The out of fashion hair styles , clothing and even manner of speech do not In any way detract from the heart rending nastiness of the baddies ! If the viewer can overlook those points, this stands up as a film well worth the time it takes to arrive at what many will guess to be the eventual outcome ? If you are seeking small minded Criticisms , this film is not for you ? Well acted, occasionally over done , and none the worse for that either. I suggest this screenplay is more informative of its era ( just after WW2 ) than it is entertaining ? No laughs or lighter moments , A serious and difficult subject handled with intelligence and dexterity .