Gibraltar Films must have considered it a real feather in their cap to feature Mona Freeman who, even though towards the end of her career, was still youthful looking enough to be believable as the young girl, fresh out of college, who returns to England for her father's funeral. I found Freeman to be irritatingly abrasive and completely out classed in the acting stakes by Jean Kent. In a story similar to "My Cousin Rachel", Kent plays the sinister stepmother Florence - well, sinister to young April's eyes, to the rest of the village she is the Lady Bountiful. April returns to a changed home - not cozy but austere, with lots of odd modern art hanging on the walls. Her "There shall be no smoking or drinking in this house" and "I know these toys are sentimental but they are such dust collectors" don't exactly make April's homecoming welcoming!! The next day the unthinkable happens - she misses her father's funeral and even though Florence tries her best to stop the rumours, gossipy servant Elsie tries to inform everyone that it was because she was drunk!! And with sayings like "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" April then has to deal with another unpalatable question - did her mother die an alcoholic?
Jean Kent who admired Claire Trevor built up a strong following as Gainsborough's bad girl of the movies, with roles in "Good Time Girl", "Fanny By Gaslight" etc but it was her subtle evilness as the wife in "The Browning Version" that bought her to prominence. Her Florence is more of the same vein. She is much admired in the village for not only having dignity at her husband's death but the way she tirelessly nursed April's mother through her final illness and April's bull in a china shop attitude is not winning her any friends. Even her childhood pal now the town doctor (Maxwell Reed) sings Florence's praises. But Florence doesn't get it all her own way - April tracks down some old family friends who positively don't like her but have no proof of her murderous intentions. And April also sees her drop her guard when she realises that because the newer will was left unsigned the one that stands leaves April as sole beneficiary!! Will she make it to her 21st birthday when she will inherit the bulk of the estate - already Florence is planning a nice little party for her!!!
Maxwell Reed, after a stint in the Merchant Navy, tried his hand at movies and became a true teen idol being so many girl's heart throb. For a while he was married to Joan Collins.
Jean Kent who admired Claire Trevor built up a strong following as Gainsborough's bad girl of the movies, with roles in "Good Time Girl", "Fanny By Gaslight" etc but it was her subtle evilness as the wife in "The Browning Version" that bought her to prominence. Her Florence is more of the same vein. She is much admired in the village for not only having dignity at her husband's death but the way she tirelessly nursed April's mother through her final illness and April's bull in a china shop attitude is not winning her any friends. Even her childhood pal now the town doctor (Maxwell Reed) sings Florence's praises. But Florence doesn't get it all her own way - April tracks down some old family friends who positively don't like her but have no proof of her murderous intentions. And April also sees her drop her guard when she realises that because the newer will was left unsigned the one that stands leaves April as sole beneficiary!! Will she make it to her 21st birthday when she will inherit the bulk of the estate - already Florence is planning a nice little party for her!!!
Maxwell Reed, after a stint in the Merchant Navy, tried his hand at movies and became a true teen idol being so many girl's heart throb. For a while he was married to Joan Collins.