source: The Holly and the Ivy

As various members of the Gregory family gather for Christmas, secrets are revealed and tempers flare. Clunky editing, theatrical directing and ridiculous casting choices should leave this film a creaky and dated mess, yet somehow it radiates a seasonal (and very British) charm. Richardson is hilariously miscast as the Gregory patriarch, donning 'old man' make-up and wandering in and out of a dodgy Oirish accent. As his 31 year old daughter Jenny, 43 year old Johnson fares better, convincing and always watchable as the dutiful child resigning herself to a future of servility. 30 year old Elliot is astonishingly youthful as twenty-something son Mick, and 30 year old Leighton captivating as troubled daughter Margaret. Obviously an adaptation from the stage, many of the scenes play like theatre, although all credit to the cast for mostly toning done the theatrics. Best moment? Margaret telling Jenny about the tragedies of her life as they wash up after Christmas Eve dinner. Leighton and Johnson beautifully convey the shock and grief of Margaret's story, Johnson particularly fine as she reacts to the dreadful story, allowing surprise and delight turn to horror. Yes The Holly And The Ivy is from another age, yes it has a theatrical flavour, yes Richardson is obviously far too young to play the elderly parson... nevertheless it remains a charming and quite moving seasonal favourite of mine.

Review Date 12/30/2018 Can you really be honest with your parent or parents. Are holidays all that special when you really don't want to be around your family. This film is based on a play and poorly opened up however the dialog and suburb characters make this a must see! In this this film Martin (Ralph Richardson) is a widowed British reverend who knows his parishioners better than his own children. Martin's detachment from his family is never more evident than at Christmas, when the family comes together to celebrate. While Martin's daughter Jenny (Celia Johnson) lives at home out of devotion, she doesn't have the heart to tell him that she wants to move out. Martin's children struggle to hide family secrets during the emotional reunion that brings back memories of World War II. When this pops up on Turner Classic Film Channel then please watch! Family safe but no for people with short attentions spans!

Beware, this film may creep up on you, it can be so easily dismissed but any viewer infused with the passion of humanity and what makes us tick will be enthralled. Some reviewers missed the point (or simply didn't want to see it!) The insightful will relish the final outcome. Writer Wynyard Brown brings to mind the intensity of Eugene O'Neal, but somehow makes it easier to take. Brown's collaboration with Producer/Writer Anatold De Grunwald offers the discerning viewer a true gem. Pity writers and Producers of this quality were given over to the bleak grittiness of the 'kitchen sink' movement (who managed to leave us a somewhat limited legacy) Performances are quite remarkable, especially the principal characters (Richadson is a standout) The stories search for faith in life over self pity is solid. Sure, it was written as a play (as was O'Neill) but unlike some others, I felt the coupling of an astute Director, and Cinematographer, has fashioned many subtle, but smart cinematic moments. D.O.P Ted (Edward) Scaife an amazing all rounder, often associated with outdoor action spectaculars (Outcast of the Islands, Dirty Dozen, Tazan's Greatest Adventure/The Magnificent, Night of the Demon, to name just a few) gives this mostly indoor film a unique look and feel, allowing the personalities of the characters to speak directly to us. If you enjoy a film to think about and feel, this could be for you. Malcolm Arnolds well arranged Music score adds greatly. I would like to buy it on DVD but don't know if the original 83min vers has been transfered or only the inferior 74min (sadly the one usually run on TV) is all thats on offer. The full running time is moderate anyway, but in this case, the longer is the better. Its rare, so find either and enjoy....

Just in time for Christmas comes a DVD available from the UK, of one of the really great Christmas film gems 'The Holly and the Ivy'. Set in a Norfolk rectory its evocation of a post-war Christmas is brought to life by the playing of Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson as the daughter. It holds no cinematic tricks and as such is just a faithful filming of a stage success. It's strength lies in the wonderful interplay between the divergent characters all coming together to spend Christmas in the Norfolk rectory. The two aunts played by Margaret Halstan and Maureen Delany are quite delightful and almost steal the show.A young Denholm Elliott is to be seen in an early role and Margaret Leighton gives a very moving performance. Just to hear the English language spoken so well by a first class cast is a joy. I love this film and will keep this one to play over the Christams period.

"The Holly and the Ivy" is a very good film...filled with some exceptional acting. However, before you watch it, you need to consider what content is in the movie. Sure, it's a Christmas film...but also one that easily could trigger your depression if you've been struggling with it. It also brings up things that are NOT fun and Christmassy....such as dead lovers and children. So think about seeing it before you do!! The story is about Christmas and a group of people who are all returning to a small British town for the holiday and to spend it with the Parson (Ralph Richardson). Most of the people coming have secrets...things they SHOULD talk about with family but haven't for inexplicable reasons. In most cases, they don't bring it up with the Parson because they perceive that he'll be judgmental and a parson first...not a father. How all this plays out is marvelous...with some brilliant acting. My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that the problems are all worked out so quickly and easily...perhaps a bit too much so. Adding a few minutes to show this process would have made the film even better. Still, the acting is magnificent and the story filled with a gritty realism otherwise. Well worth seeing.

For a while there, in Canada - in the eighties and nineties, when the television landscape was forever expanding - I could be guaranteed of seeing this movie; there was always some new station looking for filler, particularly during the Christmas season. What a treat! This movie is not just a great film about the real meaning of Christmas, it is also a relic of a period that is not so long ago in terms of years, but is eons away in terms of social convention, manners, etc. Even better, although the film was made in a gentler, more genteel time, serious issues (illegitimacy, alcoholism, reckless self-sacrifice) are explored with depth. If this had been a lesser movie, it would have come off as something to be shown in a religion class, but the extremely talented cast runs with the story and helps create a film that is magical and meaningful. I have a tape of this somewhere, and am always on the lookout for a DVD version. I only hope The Holly and the Ivy makes it to digital transfer soon, and is rediscovered as the Christmas classic that it is.

Another older film which is, unfortunately ,unavailable in video or DVD. This is a refreshing holiday movie in that it shys away from the blatant sweetness of most holiday pictures.It deals well with a family in post-war Britain that has survived the ordeal with several scars. Sir Ralph Richardson is excellent as a clergyman and a father trying to deal with uprisings and emotion within his family, caught between the "old" and the progressive. The english cast is as usual excellent - watch for a youthful Denholm Eliot. Too bad the film isn't shown often, especially for a needed change of pace from the usual Christmas line-up that happens every year.

"The Holly and the Ivy" is the only realistic Christmas movie of the 1950's. It tells the story of an English minister, Ralph Richardson, and his three conflicted adult children: Margaret Leighton, Celia, Johnson, and Denholm Elliott. Everybody in the cast does a great acting job. This is Mr. Richardson's last great role as a leading man in a movie. The story is like riding a roller coaster. Christmas should be a calm time for families, but it is not for this English family. This movie is a forgotten gem.

This is a delightful movie--truly one of the best Christmas movies. And it is now available in video in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, "The Holly and the Ivy" is still not available to those of us who live in the United States.