162: The Man in Grey

UK  116m  Dir: Leslie Arliss  Key Cast: Margaret Lockwood

Based on: The Man in Grey by Eleanor Smith (Novel)

My favourite fact about the making of this film: director Leslie Arliss was late one day and the actors began directing themselves. For some time later the phrase "Arlissing about" was used as a byword for slackness in the studio. 

The film is described as a melodrama, the first period costume drama of the "Gainsborough Melodramas" (Gainsborough Pictures being the studio). The film is about Hesther (Margaret Lockwood), an impoverished woman, and Clarissa (Phyllis Calvert). They become close friends with Clarissa being truly lovely despite very privileged background. Clarissa eventually marries Lord Rohan (James Mason), the titular Man in Grey, who is really an arse. Hesther comes back into her life and quickly falls for Rohan whilst Clarissa meets charming Rokeby (Stewart Granger). Rohan wants to avoid a scandal so Hesther schemes to get a privileged life even if it means destroying her best friend. 

I thought this was terrific. It's notable how different this is to American films of the time in the way it isn't held back by the production code. There's affairs, minor domestic abuse, a pretty violent fight and a murder. It's all there on the screen and not implied or hidden behind a closed door. 

I think it really works because of the two excellent lead characters. I really liked the idea of Clarissa, the privileged woman who goes against type by being really lovely. Hesther has had a much tougher life and she falls into the villain role because she is so desperate to reach a place of happiness and safety. You can really understand her actions and I love that she has doubts about what she is doing. 

The film also has a really nice framing device, opening with ancestors of Clarissa and Rokeby, played by the same actors, meeting in an auction of various Rohan artefacts. It links the film nicely to the present day (he is in the RAF and she is a WREN) and it's great seeing the various items being introduced throughout the film and understanding their importance to the character. It also allows for a more positive ending- the story works because it's so dark but the suggestion that love wins in the end is a nice one, especially in a time of war. 

There is unfortunately one major way in which the film is a let down and that is it's attitude towards race. Clarissa's page boy Toby is a white boy in blackface which is obviously hugely problematic. There's a few conversation about ex-slaves and the 'n' word is used as well as there being some derogatory comments about gypsies. It's frustrating because it lets down an otherwise good film and none of this stuff feels very important to the story either- it would have been better to make Toby white rather than put him in blackface, the actual race of the character doesn't really matter for the plot. As much as there are still major issues in this area, seeing something like this reminds you that things have moved on. 

On the whole though I thought this was a really excellent melodrama with some really strong characterisations.