Britannia Mews

Keeping Maureen O'Hara on its payroll throughout the 1940s was one of the smartest things Twentieth Century Fox ever did: She was capable and spirited, and so pretty that it wouldn't have mattered if she couldn't act at all. Here she is in a typically feisty role, a well-to-do London miss who marries badly and becomes victimized by a creepy old streetwoman (Dame Sybil Thorndike). As a melodrama in the "Gaslight" vein with bizarre comedy touches, it's fairly silly, but there's much to savor, especially in the details: an atmospheric backlot set (I think it was actually filmed on 20th's British soundstage), blackmail, puppetry, cackling hags, some tasty dialogue, and one exceedingly odd moment where Dana Andrews invites his ladylove's little brother to bed.

This film has not appeared on television since the 1970s, when it appeared as "Forbidden Street". It is a little film with some melodrama in it regarding the death of Dana Andrews' first character (who falls out of a window) and the blackmail of Maureen O'Hara by Sybil Thorndike, but it is really of interest in the second half when Andrews (in his second role) uses a set of hand carved puppets to change this street in the slums into a thriving middle class neighborhood. An odd way to prosperity, but interesting nonetheless.

Sybil Thorndike was a remarkable actress, whose film career is not as strong as the other actors and actresses of her generation who reached stardom. Her performances on film go back to the silent films (of England), but in sound films she appeared in good cameo parts, but she never had a set of critically acclaimed leading roles like Olivier, Richardson, Redgrave, Coward, Guilgud, Evans, Ashcroft, or Rutherford. Ashcroft and Rutherford also had supporting roles in film too but both actresses had "Oscars" to show for these, as did Olivier, Guilgud, and even Coward. Yet Thorndike did get recognition for her acting with a title as "Dame" Sybil Thorndike (like "Dame" Edith Evans, and "Dame" Peggy Ashcroft). Today, to catch her performances, one has to see her in MAJOR BARBARA as the Salvation Army General or in THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL as the Queen Mother (Lawrence Olivier's mother-in-law). Both roles certainly give you an idea of her range as an actress in comedy, but FORBIDDEN STREET shows how she was in a dramatic role - as a elderly hag who blackmails Maureen O'Hara into tolerating her continuous presence, and who actually just wanted O'Hara to love her as a mother (or so she claims). It is an odd role, and she handles it with great ability. One wishes that sound had existed in the films of her youth (the silent period). At that time Thorndike played the role of Ophelia opposite John Barrymore's Hamlet. It would have been worth seeing. Let us hope that FORBIDDEN STREET is released again on dvd or video, so we can see Dame Sybil in a dramatic part again.

A charming film, set in Victorian London, features gorgeous Maureen O'Hara as the daughter of a upper-class businessman, fascinated by the mews behind the family home (and which was forbidden territory to this gently-reared young woman); and Dana Andrews in a dual role...that of a fortune-seeking art teacher turned drunkard, and a decent young man fallen on hard times who proves to be Maureen's eventual savior. Wonderful performances by Wilfred Hyde-White as O'Hara's father, and Dame Sybil Thornedyke as a horrid old woman who blackmails O'Hara's character when she ends up living in those same forbidden mews. There's even a delightful dose of jolly good humor toward the end. One of my all-time favorite movies.

Dana Andrews first character in the movie was as 'Henry Lambert' not 'Herbert Lambert' and he didn't fall out a window - he fell down the stairs. I watched this movie today on Fox and I liked it - I didn't think that I would at first. This movie was also titled: "Affairs of Adelaide" and "The Forbidden Street". The story was a from a book by Margery Sharp entitled: "Britannia Mews". She also wrote the books from which the animated features "The Rescuers" (1977) and "The Rescuers Down Under" (1990) were drawn. I would buy this movie (The Forbidden Street/Britannia Mews/Affairs of Adelaide) if it were to come out on DVD. This is the first time I have commented on a movie in such a way.

Maureen O'Hara is a young girl who lives a well-to-do existence with her family until she takes a shine to her art teacher "Lambert" (Dana Andrews). Their relationship doesn't impress her family, but they press on anyway, set up on their own before, fairly soon, she rues the day. He turns out to be a bit of a lush. When an accident befalls him, she finds herself the subject of a pernicious blackmailing from an elderly neighbour - "Mrs. Mousey" (Dame Sybil Thorndyke) and her miserable life looks pretty set. Until, that is, another man enters her life - a man who bears a startling resemblance to her husband, and... It's quite a well paced story, this. Jean Negulesco keeps the story engaging without descending into melodrama, and Thorndyke is excellent as the avaricious old woman. The production detail is fine - the costumes and scenarios are decent enough, but the score - it really is weak, seemingly determined to slow the film down. There is some chemistry between O'Hara and Andrews that makes this just a little better than a routine costume drama and worth 90 minutes.