Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Titreenp SERIOUSLY. This is what the crap Hollywood still puts out?

ThedevilChoose When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Maddyclassicfilms The Holly and the Ivy is directed by George More O'Ferrall, has a screenplay by Anatole de Grunwald, is based on the play by Wynyard Browne and stars Celia Johnson, Ralph Richardson, Margaret Leighton, Denholm Elliot, Maureen Delany, Margaret Halstan, John Gregson and William Hartnell.Every year the Gregory family gather together for Christmas. This year when they do painful family secrets are revealed.Jenny Gregory (Celia Johnson)has devoted herself to caring for her ailing father, Rev. Martin Gregory(Ralph Richardson). In caring for her father any possibility of her own personal happiness is pushed to one side. Jenny is in love with David Paterson(John Gregson), the pair want to get married but Jenny won't allow someone else to look after her father.Jenny's sister Margaret(Margaret Leighton)is a glamorous woman and lives in London. David thinks her selfish and insists that she should take a turn looking after the sisters father. Margaret has three painful secrets that she has kept from everyone except her brother. Michael Gregory(Denholm Elliot)is a soldier and gets leave to attend his families Christmas party, he's carefree and a great deal of fun. Also invited to the party are two aunts, Lydia(Margaret Halstan) and Bridget(Maureen Delany)these two provide the films comic relief.The entire cast are very good and the film is one to warm your heart, at Christmas or at any other time of the year. As much as I liked the film, I thought that the reveal of the secrets came much too easily than they probably would in real life. Also I would have liked to have seen more discussion about them and seen a bit more focus on the impact they have on the family. The film ends on Christmas morning and I wish the film lasted longer so we could spend more time with the family and have the ending that we get a bit later, as is stands the ending is a bit too perfect and to easily arrived at in my opinion.Ralph Richardson in particular is excellent as the absent minded vicar who couldn't see his own children's pain when it was staring him in the face. Richardson is also very good considering he was quite young compared to his character and he plays a much older man very convincingly. Celia Johnson portrays Jenny's quiet dignity and self sacrifice well. Margaret Leighton is heartbreaking as the woman who acts tough but in reality is anything but.There's a small but memorable role for the first Doctor Who himself William Hartnell, he plays a terrifying Sergeant Major who causes trouble for Michael.This is a delightful film and is one that should be better known.

imballfan I saw this in England when it was new and have wanted so much to see it again but it was never available. I am so thrilled to report that I just received it on DVD in the North American format. I assume I cannot mention the vendor but I found it by searching the internet. Although it is somewhat dated it is nevertheless the only meaningful realistic Christmas movie I've ever seen. It depicts the sorrow that ensues when family members feel they cannot be honest with each other. And it also shows how easy it is to place a clergyman in an ivory tower where he neither wants nor deserves to be. The acting from a renown cast prevents it from sinking into maudlin sentimentality.

bdwittkamp It's too bad that this film is unavailable in the United States. Many years ago it was given to me by a friend who taped it off some obscure broadcast station. I've shown it every year since and have never grown tired of it. There is much truth in this film, and all of its characters reveal something of themselves that we can all identify with. And what a cast-- Ralph Richardson, Celia Johnson, Margaret Leighton, Denholm Elliot, and Hugh Williams! Richardson's parson is one, regardless of one's faith, we would all love to know. And Johnson and Leighton display acting of the highest order. Elliot is superb as the restless son, and Williams as a world weary but understanding and compassionate friend of the family has never been better. This is a film that deserves wide attention and should be a Christmas staple. It is not only my favorite Christmas movie, but also one my ten favorite films of all time.

Brigid O Sullivan (wisewebwoman) This movie is a little gem for the most part. And a welcome change from the usual Christmas fare. The only fault is with the ending which appears rushed and we are left to grieve the characters a little. Rather like a dessert that gets whisked away before one is quite finished. Unsatisfied. It tells the story of a widowed parson and the family members who come home for the holidays to a quaint old village. Father, played wonderfully by Ralph Richardson, has always been shielded from the facts of life by his three - now adult - children. For the era in which it was made (1952)the secrets one of the three carries is quite a shocker. A flaw is that Celia Johnson, an actress I enjoy, is far too old in this to play a thirty one year old. Margaret Leighton's brittle charm is never more appealing than here. However, the two aunts steal every scene in which they appear, two wonderful stage actresses, Margaret Halstan and Maureen Delaney. A great script, a little stagey, and ending far too swiftly, I gave it a 7 out of 10.