The Card
The Card

The Card

1952Movie85 minEnglish

A charming and ambitious young man finds many ways to raise himself through the ranks in business and social standing - some honest, some not quite so. If he can just manage to avoid a certain very predatory woman.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Director: Ronald NeameGenres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

Edward Henry 'Denry' Machin, a humble pottery apprentice, possesses an uncanny knack for making money and rising through society. Using charm, wit, and a touch of manipulation, he navigates the social and financial complexities of Edwardian England. From his humble beginnings to achieving great wealth and status, Denry's journey is a delightful and often humorous account of ambition and success.

Critical Reception

The Card was generally well-received by critics for its charming performances, particularly Alec Guinness's, and its lighthearted depiction of social mobility and early 20th-century English life. Audiences enjoyed its feel-good narrative and comedic elements, making it a popular and fondly remembered film of its era.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for Alec Guinness's charismatic performance and skillful portrayal of a likable rogue.
  • Appreciated for its warm, humorous, and nostalgic depiction of Edwardian England.
  • Seen as a delightful and optimistic story of social climbing and self-made success.

Google audience: Google user reviews are not readily available for this classic film, but historical reception indicates it was a well-loved comedy-drama.

Fun Fact

The film is based on the semi-autobiographical novel 'The Old Wives' Tale' by Arnold Bennett, though the novel has a much more serious and dramatic tone than the film adaptation.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

1 reviews
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

Ronald Name has done quite a good job turning Arnold Bennett's amiable rags-to-riches tale into a throughly watchable film. Alec Guinness ("Denry" - an amalgam of Edward and Henry) is the aspiring son of a lowly washerwoman (Veronica Turlei...