I have a copy of this film on DVD. If anyone should want a copy please phone Stuart Mallinson 01535 634629 and I will happily do you a copy for the small cost of the postage and the blank DVD. This film is now public domain but I cannot upload it on to UTUBE. Regards Stuart Mallinson.
5 Reviews
Untypical Korda Film
malcolmgsw2 March 2013
Warning: Spoilers
With Alexander Korda you expect to see an action adventure or costume drama.this film is completely unlike any other of his that i have seen.Indeed it more resembles one of the Warner Brothers 30s films such as 20000years in Sing Sing or Ladies Who Talk.It follows their plots immaculately.Women's prison being run by a cruel warden.Edna Best is brought in to rectify the situation.Initially meets skepticism from the prisoners and hostility from the guards.She puts her trust in one of the inmates to go out shopping unescorted.She is late in returning.However she returns in the nick of time.However the inmate falls in lover with the prison doctor,who is engaged to Best.Mary Morris blackmails her for fags and booze and this ends up in a prison riot.However Best wins out in the end but sacrifices her personal life.All very familiar stuff.Apparently this was filmed in 3 versions and that the lesbianism referred to in the book was removed.It is interesting as it is an unusual film from Korda but it doesn't compare well to the snappy Warner films.
Edna Best Is Always Right
boblipton1 August 2020
Edna Best takes over a girl's reformatory and institutes new methods, including trusting the girls. She is opposed by the old guard of matrons, all of whom wear black, under the stony-faced tutelage of the old matron, Martitia Hunt.
Edna Best plays her saint-like role with nicely revealed emotionalism, annoying fiancee Barry K. Barnes, who wants to get married now that his appointment in India has come through. This black-and-white production offers a decidedly black-and-white attitude towards prison reform.
The copy I looked at had been severely cropped on the sides, making the credits difficult to read and offering a weird and ugly mise-en-scene. Look out for an instantly recognized Glynis Johns in her third screen appearance.
Edna Best plays her saint-like role with nicely revealed emotionalism, annoying fiancee Barry K. Barnes, who wants to get married now that his appointment in India has come through. This black-and-white production offers a decidedly black-and-white attitude towards prison reform.
The copy I looked at had been severely cropped on the sides, making the credits difficult to read and offering a weird and ugly mise-en-scene. Look out for an instantly recognized Glynis Johns in her third screen appearance.
Gem of a film
Wayland_Wombat6 August 2020
Just watched film in YouTube, been wanting to see for a while, and not disappointed, print on version a bit cropped, apparently BFI has original print.
This really needs an official release deservers to be seen, I understand from YouTube it will be taken down very shortly
Fantastic Film! Should of made it big! A+++++++++++++++++++++
drunkenmonkey58234 September 2005
This film is rare to find but I have a copy of it on VHS which I purchased from a US hard-to-find video site, and loved it! Great acting ability from the adorable Glynis Johns and Verena Rice. Edna Best is a delight, Mary Morris shows real skills and Martita Hunt brings a lot to her role.
With the superb Director, Brian Desmond Hurst, and the well known Producer, Alexander Korda, the only reason I can think that this film did not do well is because I heard that the main star, Corinne Luchaire, got together with a German Nazi just after the films release.
Such a shame! Enjoyed the film greatly all the same and wish it could be released in the stores! A+
With the superb Director, Brian Desmond Hurst, and the well known Producer, Alexander Korda, the only reason I can think that this film did not do well is because I heard that the main star, Corinne Luchaire, got together with a German Nazi just after the films release.
Such a shame! Enjoyed the film greatly all the same and wish it could be released in the stores! A+
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