A pretty young woman will do anything to escape her deadly dull existence in the backlots of Wales. But when she reaches the bright lights of London is the price too high?A pretty young woman will do anything to escape her deadly dull existence in the backlots of Wales. But when she reaches the bright lights of London is the price too high?A pretty young woman will do anything to escape her deadly dull existence in the backlots of Wales. But when she reaches the bright lights of London is the price too high?
Christopher Beeny
- Youth in Shopping Centre
- (uncredited)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
Saw this at the Dominion, Twickenham, Middlesex, in November 1963 - it was the B-movie to a film I've forgotten - I happened to see Bitter Harvest second in the programme. I enjoyed the London setting of the film - Jenny has a room overlooking the railway tracks at Paddington but the film had an overall feeling of terrible sadness and waste - I went and looked at the dark river Thames flowing under the footbridge to Eel Pie island - then I went home and heard that President Kennedy had been shot in Dallas. So that's what I was doing when...
I don't know how I've missed this little gem. The terrific lost talent of Janet Munro and a whole host of top notch actors of the time like the acerbic Thora Hird and the tender John Stride give great performances here. The story is a natural successor to the gritty black and white Bryanston kitchen sink dramas of the late 50s early 60s. It sits well too with pre swinging 60s films like Alfie. A perfect snapshot of the social and sexual mores of the time.
A special mention too for the beautiful colour cinematography and the evocative London locations.
I don't think you'll be disappointed
This road-to-ruin melodrama is surprisingly watchable if you don't expect too much. The storyline is totally predictable, the characters little more than cliches, the colour lurid and I thought I detected some heavy-handed editing as 3rd-billed Alan Badell has only a few lines in a couple of scenes while uncredited Thora Hird (fresh from her triumph in "A Kind of Loving") has much more screentime as a grasping landlady.
This movie turned up on a local television station in the midnight to dawn slot and I watched it purely by chance. I had never heard of this British movie nor were any of the actors/actresses familiar to me. Despite this the opening scene, musical theme and the scene after it made me want to stick around until the end and learn the full story.
The movie is about Jenny, who predictably is poor and leads a dull ordinary life. Influenced by the models she sees in television and magazine ads, she dreams of a life full of glamour, excitement, beautiful clothes etc. A naive Jenny, in an unexpected and unplanned manner finds herself in London. She has no money and no clothes except for the clothes she's wearing. Her dream does eventually become a reality, but she becomes a victim. Was it all worth it?
The movie begins in the present, flashes back to the not so distant past and back to the present for the final scenes. Jenny's life is shown up to a certain point. After that you are left to fill in the gaps of what might have happened to her, but the clues make it obvious.
Parts of the story were predictable and you could see the story unfold from a mile away. This however did not ruin my enjoyment of the film. Part of the enjoyment was the ending. I expected a more predictable ending, but instead I was surprised and a little stunned.
The theme of the movie seems to be poor, happy and in love versus rich and miserable. The final scene to me suggests that Jenny would have been better off if she had stayed with the man who loved her even though they were living in poverty.
An entertaining dramatic film with a good but depressing storyline. It was worth staying up for.
The movie is about Jenny, who predictably is poor and leads a dull ordinary life. Influenced by the models she sees in television and magazine ads, she dreams of a life full of glamour, excitement, beautiful clothes etc. A naive Jenny, in an unexpected and unplanned manner finds herself in London. She has no money and no clothes except for the clothes she's wearing. Her dream does eventually become a reality, but she becomes a victim. Was it all worth it?
The movie begins in the present, flashes back to the not so distant past and back to the present for the final scenes. Jenny's life is shown up to a certain point. After that you are left to fill in the gaps of what might have happened to her, but the clues make it obvious.
Parts of the story were predictable and you could see the story unfold from a mile away. This however did not ruin my enjoyment of the film. Part of the enjoyment was the ending. I expected a more predictable ending, but instead I was surprised and a little stunned.
The theme of the movie seems to be poor, happy and in love versus rich and miserable. The final scene to me suggests that Jenny would have been better off if she had stayed with the man who loved her even though they were living in poverty.
An entertaining dramatic film with a good but depressing storyline. It was worth staying up for.
Of course this film is dated. Why else watch it? The story is too ugly today. This is glossy and the characters and clothes lovely.
This film has a long beginning, no middle and a short ending. It is still well worth watching.
Jennie is a young pretty girl from a working class family. She lives in Wales which is made to look like the dreariest place on earth. She is dying to get to London. Eventually she does but it is not under the best circumstances.
Jennie lucks out. She meets caring and decent Bob, who goes to protect her. She lies and claims to be pregnant to garner more sympathy.
Janet Munroe was quite lovely and a very good actress. John Stride does a good job as the kind and patient man who falls in love with her,
How does it turn out? Does Jennie build a life with this devoted young man or does she risk it all for a chance at the limelight?
This film has a long beginning, no middle and a short ending. It is still well worth watching.
Jennie is a young pretty girl from a working class family. She lives in Wales which is made to look like the dreariest place on earth. She is dying to get to London. Eventually she does but it is not under the best circumstances.
Jennie lucks out. She meets caring and decent Bob, who goes to protect her. She lies and claims to be pregnant to garner more sympathy.
Janet Munroe was quite lovely and a very good actress. John Stride does a good job as the kind and patient man who falls in love with her,
How does it turn out? Does Jennie build a life with this devoted young man or does she risk it all for a chance at the limelight?
Did you know
- TriviaUncredited appearance by Christopher Beeny as one of the two boys who follow Janet Munro and Barbara Ferris from the grounds of Cardiff Castle
- GoofsBob's bedsit backs on to a main railway line, which is presumably into Paddington. However, when he returns to the house following Jennie's visit to the pub the road name Kensington Gardens Square is clearly visible. This is actually a short distance away.
- ConnectionsRemade as Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky (2005)
- How long is Bitter Harvest?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Gorka žetva
- Filming locations
- 54 Kensington Gardens Square, Westminster, Greater London, England, UK(exterior of Bob's flat)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime
- 1h 31m(91 min)
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content