Great Day

This is one of those small films about small matters looming to greatness. It's just a small village making a big fuss about a great occasion falling suddenly upon them, making them all contribute a last great war effort to welcome - Eleanor Roosevelt. Of course, she never appears in the film, because the film is about all those small common very human people who are looking foraward to receiving her by making the best possible impression. This is not so easy, as there are tragedies on the way, there is a love affair that turns out in odd ways, there is jealousy among the ladies, and there is Eric Portman in perhaps his finest act. He was always made to play impossible roles, often murderers and at least very unsympathetic characters, and this is no exception, but more overwhelmingly human in its pathetic realism. He has memories of the first world war and has been doing nothing since but living on those memories with a wife and daughter always being obliged to take care of him when he falls, but he makes this impossible role just perfectly, and you will cry for him if not for all the gorgeous community of mostly ladies just making an effort. William Alwyn's music crowns it all with an addition of Hubert Parry in the end to suit Eleanor Roosevelt together with the Star Spangled Banner. Also the cinematography is a marvel with its many close-ups, really closing in on people with their innermost feelings, like Eric Portman in the beginning with his daughter watching birds; but perhaps the greatest impression of all is made by the wonderful dialogue all the way -- it's a vast river of brilliant conversation, nothing remarakable, nothing eloquent, but flowing incessantly of just human nature. In brief, this is one of those very small films that tower above many great ones.

"Great Day" couldn't be described as a great film by any stretch but it has enough of the incidental pleasures present in so many English movies (for me anyway) to be worth seeing.

First of all Eric Portman is outstanding as the pathetic WW1 Captain whose time has passed. He reminded me a little of David Niven in "Separate Tables". Flora Robson as his supportive wife is also excellent, no surprises there. It struck me looking at the familiar faces in the cast that so many of these actors always seem to have been middle-aged, was there a young Irene Handl or John Laurie, was there ever a teenage Kathleen Harrison, Marjorie Rhodes or Patricia Hayes? I can't recall them.

While it's fascinating to see the Women's Institute in action in Village England "Great Day" is very studio-bound with too obvious back-projection and the dialogue tends to the stilted. (I did like one line about a dinner invitation "Kill the fatted spam") And was Britain always drenched in sunshine?

"Great Day" is well worth one look.

In a small English village, everyone is excited because Mrs. Roosevelt is going to visit the town.

Not that this forms much more than a background to the subplots that are going on. Much time is devoted to retired captain Eric Portman, who is nearly broke but has been putting on a front for a long time; his long-suffering wife, Flora Robson; and their daughter, Sheila Sim. Miss Sim is carrying on a love affair with a young soldier, while proposing to marry a well-to-do older man for security.

It's all very well performed, but the way the script is talking about how Mrs. Roosevelt is coming not as the First Lady, but as a wife and mother one moment, and Portman is caught stealing ten bob the next makes it difficult to maintain more coherence.

Eleanor Roosevelt was known for turning up in the most unexpected places. There's an old New Yorker cartoon of two coal miners deep underground; one of them announces "Why, it's Mrs. Roosevelt!"

Gosh, what an odd view the other reviews paint of this film's setting! The Women's Institute was a significant voluntary organisation during WW2. This film is one of many paying a tribute to that organisation - a recognition of their contribution to the war effort. Like other films of this type, e.g. Fires Were Started, they'd be a bit dull if they didn't include some human interest - and that is where most of the plot is driven - in particular with respect to the Ellis family.

The casting is interesting. The year before the fantastic A Canterbury Tale - a Powell and Pressburger gem - came out. The stars of this brilliant film were - Eric Portman and Sheila Sim - Captain and Miss Ellis in Great Day. The chemistry between the two in ACT was, I'm sure, what got them into Great Day. Even Miss Sim's (later Lady Attenborough, by the way) clothes were carried over - it seems!

Curious title for this film.

From 1945, the film takes place in an English village, Denley, where it is announced that Eleanor Roosevelt will be visiting the next day. She will be observing wartime efforts by the Women's Institute, a program that prepares and sends products to the troops.

The focus is on one family, the Ellis'. The matriarch, Liz (Flora Robson) is a valuable program member. Her husband, Captain Ellis (Eric Portman) is a veteran living in his past glory and spending money they don't have on liquor. Liz has cut off his credit at the local pub so he spends time borrowing or cadging drinks.

Their daughter, Margaret, is planning to marry an older landlord but is really in love with a soldier (Philip Friend). She wants security. Philip's sister is nasty and bitter, opposed to the engagement.

In the midst of the preparations, Captain Ellis is arrested for trying to steal money.

While the film does show the excitement and preparations for Mrs. Roosevelt's arrival, it seems really to be the story of the dysfunction in the Ellis household. This is perhaps an attempt to show, through Liz Ellis, the coping mechanisms and hard work of the village women.

Liz consoles her daughter and is strong for her husband. All the while, she works for the program and makes a new dress for the child who will present flowers to Mrs. Roosevelt. Robson gives a wonderful performance, and Portman is wonderful as a disillusioned soldier who feels the world has left him behind.

The final scene is lovely and uplifting. The film is dedicated to the Women's Institute.

Some trivia: Sheila Sim, the pretty ingenue, was married to Sir Richard Attenborough for 69 years and distinguished herself in several films. Sadly, part of their family was lost in the tsunami that hit Thailand.