| I watched as well for the first time. Framed as a British holiday curiosity. Yet some curiosity: with Richardson, Denholm Elliot, Margaret Leighton and the great Celia Johnson, simply wonderful. Talky, yes, its theatrical roots obvious, but surprisingly unsentimental at startling turns in the story, characters becoming vinegary as mendacity is revealed; unafraid to cut through the usual trove of Yule storytelling cliches, it seems a model of restraint. |
