Bitter Harvest

this film brings back memories because the first part of the film was made in the village i lived in, and my friend and i was extras on the bus taking the main character out of the valley. I got the princely sum of one pound. The bus belonged to my friends uncle and we had to do the scene about twenty times to get it right we also had a fire engine spraying water for it to look like rain. Iwould love to see this film but don't know where to purchase it from. Is the one Patsey Kensitt making the same film i seem to have seen a film with the same title with her starring in it, I was surprised to see that Terence Alexander was not the main star as i only remembered him and Janet Munro at the time.

I don't know how I've missed this little gem. The terrific lost talent of Janet Munro and a whole host of top notch actors of the time like the acerbic Thora Hird and the tender John Stride give great performances here. The story is a natural successor to the gritty black and white Bryanston kitchen sink dramas of the late 50s early 60s. It sits well too with pre swinging 60s films like Alfie. A perfect snapshot of the social and sexual mores of the time. A special mention too for the beautiful colour cinematography and the evocative London locations. I don't think you'll be disappointed

Saw this at the Dominion, Twickenham, Middlesex, in November 1963 - it was the B-movie to a film I've forgotten - I happened to see Bitter Harvest second in the programme. I enjoyed the London setting of the film - Jenny has a room overlooking the railway tracks at Paddington but the film had an overall feeling of terrible sadness and waste - I went and looked at the dark river Thames flowing under the footbridge to Eel Pie island - then I went home and heard that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. So that's what I was doing when...

Of course this film is dated. Why else watch it? The story is too ugly today. This is glossy and the characters and clothes lovely.

This film has a long beginning, no middle and a short ending. It is still well worth watching.

Jennie is a young pretty girl from a working class family. She lives in Wales which is made to look like the dreariest place on earth. She is dying to get to London. Eventually she does but it is not under the best circumstances.

Jennie lucks out. She meets caring and decent Bob, who goes to protect her. She lies and claims to be pregnant to garner more sympathy.

Janet Munroe was quite lovely and a very good actress. John Stride does a good job as the kind and patient man who falls in love with her,

How does it turn out? Does Jennie build a life with this devoted young man or does she risk it all for a chance at the limelight?

B movie or A movie, it's not a grandiose masterpiece but it's still good and watchable. The actors are all good, the story is not quite great, it has some gaps but, we are all super intelligent viewers, aren't we, and we can imagine what is missing. The first 5 minutes are very powerful, when Jenny destroys the pillow with scissors, pours the drink on the photo to Karl (Alan Badel) and throws her dresses out the window. The final scene in which Bob (John Stride) crosses the street with Ella (Anne Cunningham) and they are almost hit by the ambulance containing Jenny's lifeless body is impressive and strong. Janet Munro did a great role.