Connecting Rooms

‘Connecting Rooms' is a bleak chamber drama, similar in mood and setting to ‘Separate Tables' but nowhere near so interesting as that film. I'm not aware that ‘Connecting Rooms' was ever released anywhere: I saw it at a trade screening, and not one of the cinema exhibitors in the audience showed any interest in booking this movie … despite the box-office value of Bette Davis and Michael Redgrave.

James Wallraven (Redgrave) is a schoolmaster who has been dismissed for sexual misconduct with one of his students: the script is careful to let us know that Wallraven was unfairly accused (unlike the equivalent character in ‘Separate Tables', played by David Niven in his Oscar-winning performance). The disgraced Wallraven lives in a dilapidated rooming house in Bayswater, hoping that no one here will learn his shameful secret. He meets Wanda Fleming, a repressed cellist (Davis). This film was based on a (flop) stage play called ‘The Cellist', and Davis's role is clearly the central character in this film. A tentative relationship develops between Wallraven and Wanda.

Wanda's student is a scruffy young man named Mickey Hollister (Alexis Kanner), who lusts for fame as a songwriter. Mickey also lusts for Wanda, even though he's a lot younger and better-looking than she is. Jealous that Wanda is giving her attentions to Wallraven, Mickey reveals Wallraven's secret … without revealing that Wallraven is innocent.

This whole thing is a soap opera. Leo Genn and Kay Walsh give good performances in supporting roles. Redgrave's role would have been much more interesting (and his performance more challenging) if his character had actually been guilty of the sex crime. By far, the best performance on offer here is Alexis Kanner's. Although Kanner is an extremely pretentious actor, he's also a very physical actor who takes risks. In many of his TV and film roles, what Kanner does onscreen is wrong … but he nearly always does something interesting and unexpected. He's vital, virile and primally evil as the covetous Hollister. If Kanner had channelled his talents more intelligently, and disciplined himself, he could have been the British version of James Dean.

At the end of the film, Bette Davis and Michael Redgrave walk past a theatre poster for a play starring an actress named Margo Channing (the character Davis played in ‘All About Eve'). This wasn't a very good in-joke, as it reminds us of a film that's much better than ‘Connecting Rooms', in which Bette Davis gives a much better performance than she does here. I'll reluctantly rate this movie 2 points out of 10.

Bette Davis, who aged like cheap wine and looked horrible after 1960 is in a relationship with a much younger man. The idea that Bette Davis could bed anyone besides an old hobo is ridiculous. She looks like a dessicated prune with big sad eyes, something like a sad clown who has seen better days.

Michael Redgrave, also in his last days, seems very sad to be in this movie. Connecting the characters of this boarding house by their rooms does not work out very well, and like many melodramas of this era, it always seems like you missed a scene leading up to the drama that is unfolding.

Hotel Beauregard meets swinging London. What a mashup! Two bad movies combined. Sorry for Michael and Bette, wonderful actors, who had to go through with this. And why couldn't that kid hold his head up? Did he have some neck problem??

I watched "Connecting Rooms" because it starred Bette Davis....more than enough reason to watch any film. However, I should point out that this is a rather obscure movie....and finding it was not easy. I was able to locate it on a Roku channel...finally!

The story is mostly centered around Wanda (Bette Davis) and James (Michael Redgrave), two residents at a rather tatty rooming house in London. It begins with James arriving at the place for the first time and he's in the room next to Wanda. At that time, Wanda is engaged in a very dysfunctional relationship with a young guy who is very manipulative and a user. But Wanda is so lonely that although she knows it, she also is STILL hoping that somehow she can develop a romance with him. As for James...he obviously has a secret and is very much to himself and difficult to get to know. Little does he know that Wanda also has a bit of a secret...though not nearly as creepy as his!

The acting is very good. As for the story, it leaves so many open ends and leaves the viewer questioning who the people really are...particularly James. Is he a nice guy or a despicable jerk? Watch the film...and find out for yourself.

By the way, in case you want to know, there's a decent amount of nudity in this film. No, you don't see Davis nor Redgrave naked (thank goodness)....but parents might want to know.

Was always interested in seeing Bette Davis and Michael Redgrave in late roles, being admirers of both. More so Davis than Redgrave, but it is as hard to forget Redgrave's performance in 'The Browning Version' as much as it is with Davis and 'All About Eve'. Really like melodramas when done well, whether in film, in television, in very old cartoons and on stage with plays and operas. Also saw it briefly compared to Terrence Rattigan's 'Separate Tables', love the play and Rattigan and the film version is excellent.

'Connecting Rooms' is very hard to find. Practically obscure even, though somehow did manage to see it online. That is a real shame, as, despite not being perfect by any stretch (with a couple of the potential traps that melodramas can have being fallen into), it is a long way from a bad film. Actually found 'Connecting Rooms' to be good, moving and very well acted, deserving of much more attention and exposure when far inferior films have a significant amount of marketing and also a wide audience.

Maybe 'Connecting Rooms' could have been opened up more as there is a staged play feel at times. Like in the pace, which could have been tighter and had less of the pauses that dulled the action somewhat.

Although the dialogue is mostly very well-written and thought-provoking, again it could have tightened up as there are parts that have a little too much talk. A touch too sappy occasionally too.

However, 'Connecting Rooms' is shot with the right amount of intimacy without being static, and the costumes and sets are not one's definition of big and grand but they are opulent and suit the intimacy and chamber-like mood of the piece very well. The music in my mind avoided over-scoring and being intrusive in placement. The dialogue has a lot of intelligence and pathos, the latter being executed in a way that mostly is not too sentimental and quite moving. The direction is never less than competent, even if there could have a little more flow between transitions. Liked the 'All About Eve' reference and it was interesting to see the hands of Amaryllis Fleming featured when Davis plays the cello (an instrument close to my heart, with it being my second instrument after voice).

The story absorbs and has enough moments where it is heart-wrenching. The characters intrigue and feel real. Kay Walsh is always reliable in her role and Alexis Kanner doesn't overplay his character's jealousy. Olga Georges-Picot is touching. It's the two leads that stand out though. It is great to see Redgrave reign in and be effectively subtle, and Davis often shows the beauty of acting where eyes and expressions without words are so telling and in such a gracefully dignified and moving way.

In summation, good film deserving of more exposure. 7/10