Aunt Clara

Margaret Rutherford claimed her favorite movie role was as Aunt Clara and I can understand why. When wealthy, irascible A.E. Matthews dies, he leaves everything to Miss Rutherford: his crooked gambling game, his pub where they sell watered whiskey, his brothel (run by Joyce Compton), his runaway bastard daughter Jill Bennett, and his misogynistic spiv of a manservant, Ronald Shiner. She's been running a slum mission and, playing the sort of vague, pleasant, mildly crackpotted character she did so well -- she has zoomed to the top ranks as Madame Arcati in BLITHE SPIRIT -- everyone thinks they can pull a fast one on her, but in her soft, vague way, she shows herself to be cannily able to redeem through kindness -- and willing to punish the truly wicked when necessary.

As usual, Miss Rutherford shines in a role that looks to have been written specifically for her talents. Even Ronald Shiner, a comic actor who does not usually appeal to me, acquits himself well. Keep an eye out for Sid James in a small but very funny role as a racetrack tout.