Jassy

In a film which is great fun and really gives you an idea of the social manners of the period there are two outstanding pieces of casting.

One is Basil Sidney who gives a bravura performance wonderfully sustained over the entire film. I am amazed he did not become a major star.

Two I simply don't understand the attraction of Esma Cannon. She may have been cast well in other films but this is one of the worst pieces of casting I have ever seen. Far too old for the part, Esma doesn't help it by overreacting fantastically throughout the entire film.

A busy, almost overwrought period melodrama from Gainsborough that's so plot-heavy no scene seems to last longer than 30 seconds. The studio clearly lavished plenty of money on the production, and the stars give it their all to make Jassy an enjoyable, if slightly silly, watch.

This story is set in 19th century Britain. Nick Helmer (Basil Sidney) is a real jerk in this period drama. When the story begins, Helmer is gambling and manages to take just about everything from Mr. Hatton. Soon, Hatton has killed himself and his family is no longer living in their grand estate. Hatton's son, Barney, befriends a young woman named Jassy (Margaret Lockwood) and she is indebted to him. And, through the rest of the film she works hard to return the favor...and get revenge on Helmer. Why revenge? Well, it's not just because Helmer ruined Hatton's family but because Helmer has killed her father! What comes next? See the film...and see how Jassy ultimately becomes mistress of the house. There is much more to this complicated tale...but I don't want to tell too much of the story, as it would ruin the suspense.

During this era, Margaret Lockwood many many wonderful films, such as "A Place of Ones Own", "The Wicked Lady" as well as "Bedelia"...so it's no surprise that I enjoyed "Jassy". The story is well acted and never dull....and Lockwood is radiant and up to her usual high standard of acting. Well worth seeing...and with a very strange but worthwhile ending.

The last film in the popular Gainsborough Studios costume cycle is certainly beautiful to look at with sumptuous Technicolor and the company's biggest ever budget for lavish period sets.Dramatically the direction is rather lifeless with bitty editing and short Tv style scenes.The second half of the film is much better with an authorititive performance from star Margaret Lockwood and a nasty villain in Basil Sydney. Patricia Roc has a less sympathetic role than usual as the wilful, amoral Dilys but the film really misses the star power of Stewart Granger and James Mason who,several years earlier, would have played the roles take by Sydney and Dermot Walsh.A happy ending is substituted for the tragic one in the original novel..

Margaret Lockwood is good in this sinister tale of 17th Century British mysticism. She is the eponymous character who can sense impending doom. A dangerous occupation back then, but luckily (or not) local landowner "Barney Hatton" (Dermot Walsh) sees a way of using her to help restore his family fortunes lost by his father (Dennis Price) at the hands of the pretty odious "Helmer" (Basil Sydney). As the plot unravels, we discover that "Jassy" has her own particular axe to grind too - and, well let's just say you wouldn't want to be "Helmer"! The look of the film has something of the Daphne du Maurier about it, but the plot is a little too slow to develop, and there is much too much dialogue. Still, Lockwood is well worth watching here - as usual - and there is just enough menace provided by the eerily lit and well scored production to keep this interesting.