Tournez la clef doucement

Everybody deserves another chance. Newly released from prison, three women face the challenges of reformed life on the "outside". Each have their own plans for moving on with life. The youngest (played by a stunningly beautiful Joan Collins in her first leading film role) is determined to marry a sincere young man with whom she had kept in correspondence. The second one appears to have been innocently convicted due to a shifty boyfriend who left her to take the wrap for the crime he had committed. The third is a sweet little old lady who routinely got convicted of shop lifting. - The film follows all three women through their first day of freedom. Young Joan Collins is excited when her fiancé suggests a very near wedding date. The innocent one finds employment, and the old lady goes back to her modest boarding house where her beloved little dog "Johnnie" was waiting for her return. - Of course there are complication, lots of drama, and a heart breaking ending. The grim realities of early 1950s life in London make for a believable backdrop to the individual character studies. Life was tough, and for single women even tougher. Adding a prison record only adds to the challenge. - I was very much entertained by this film. A simple story told with warmth and empathy. Be sure to have your Kleenex box handy, it's a mushy one!

What an entertaining film! Glamour, thrills, romance, sentimentality. This is a British black and white film noir, if that's the correct description to give it, but it give a clue in the night time robbery scene, the stark prison scenes at the beginning, the clandestine meetings the leading players have in alleyways, etc. The stars all act well, particularly Kathleen Harrison as an old lag who on her release in reunited with Johnny, her little dog, who plays as leading a part as the humans here. Joan Collins in an early glamour role is as striking then as she is now over sixty years later. The leading actress is Yvonne Mitchell and her lover is the villainous Terence Morgan, a part he was adept at playing in the 1950's. I didn't want it to end, and maybe, that's the secret of a great movie, leave 'em wanting more. Films today are often too long and that's why they are rarely great any more. There is a scene where a woman very briefly walks down the stairs past Yvonne Mitchell, and I could swear it was Prunella Scales (from Fawlty Towers) but it was so brief and she's not listed.

Rather cliched plot, but some nice period detail, if your interested in old film of London, youll really enjoy this tearjerking melodrama. A very young Joan Collins is adorable as the easily led West End girl Stella. Plenty of other classic British Movie faces too.

"Turn the Key Softly" is an interesting film and well worth your time. It's the story about three women who are released from prison on the same day. It follows each through their first day out and is a very melancholy story...one that will NOT be leaving you happy! There...you've been warned.

The three ladies (one of which is a very young Joan Collins) all leave prison and the story clearly illustrates that you just can't go back to your old life. In one case, it's because family no longer want anything to do with one of the women. And, in another case, one returns to her crook boyfriend...something which clearly is NOT in her best interests. As for the final one, her story is a bit hard to categorize other than she likes nice things.

Overall, this is a very good film for three reasons. It's best quality is that it's unique in so many ways...a major plus. It also has some terrific acting as well as brilliant cinematography--particularly late in the film during a chase sequence. Overall, not a lot to complain about apart from the depressing nature of some of the stories.

An overlooked masterpiece of direction, editing and photography... and Maurice Cowan's screenplay is a cracker, too. The writer went on to find bigger success scripting some Norman Wisdom gems soon after this movie was made. Throw in some of the finest British acting talents of the day and you can't go wrong.

The title of the movie becomes apparent towards the end and it's a treat to discover.

Three very different women are released from prison at the same time (eight o clock, precisely) and the movie follows the subsequent day and evening as they get used to their freedom.

Monica (Yvonne Mitchell) has 'done' a year for something she didn't do yet she still carries a torch for the no-good spiv who put her inside. She gets a second chance at a new life and the film is largely focused on her story and whether or not she'll let her head rule her heart this time around.

Stella (Joan Collins) faces a similar choice between good and evil but in her case, her devoted man is good and her previous lifestyle is bad. Who will win this tug of war? (Joan Collins looks beautiful and sexy! She was just 20 when this movie came out and this is one of her first credited parts.)

Granny (Kathleen Harrison) is perhaps the most tragic character. She's a good-natured shoplifter who has lost her daughter's love and is kept going by her own affection for her dog, Johnny. (Kathleen Harrison may not be a name you recognize but you'll almost certainly know her face. Probably most famous as Mrs Thursday in the mid-sixties. She lived to the ripe old age of 103!)

There is a lot to marvel at, even if the story doesn't do it for you. London in the fifties is shown off with extraordinary clarity and with plenty of subtle reminders of how London used to be. The sign in the butcher's shop reads 'You can re-register here!' and the Brylcreem ads dotted the scorched, red brick walls. Piccadilly Circus and London's West End are a treasure to see in the post-war capital.

All the peripheral characters are a joy to watch and we shouldn't overlook the parts they play in bringing this movie to life. Thora Hird, Geoffrey Keen, Dorothy Alison... and many, many more!

The three stories blend perfectly together with dollops of tragedy, drama and ultimately hope. There's so much going on in every scene that the usherettes will be sweeping up the peanut shells, Capstan butts and discarded Walls ice cream tubs before you've had a chance to get seated comfortably!

Now showing on YouTube!