The Margaret Lockwood Collection

This set showcases the likeability and versatility of one of Britain’s most beloved movie stars, Margaret Lockwood. Alongside her best-known film, The Lady Vanishes, a... more >

This set showcases the likeability and versatility of one of Britain’s most beloved movie stars, Margaret Lockwood. Alongside her best-known film, The Lady Vanishes, and her signature role, as Gainsborough’s Wicked Lady, are four very different movies: a multi-threaded comedy-drama, a classy soaper, an engaging spy caper and a home-grown screwball comedy.

Unsurprisingly, the best movie here is The Lady Vanishes, Hitchcock’s wonderful train-bound thriller, with bride-to-be Lockwood and musician Michael Redgrave facing foreign spies, drugged drinks and nuns in high heels as they unravel a mystery. Comedy, romance and suspense gel perfectly, and the gallery of supporting characters includes those recurring national treasures Charters and Caldicott.

The Wicked Lady is ridiculous but wildly entertaining, with Lockwood irresistible as the husband-stealer turned highwaywoman who finds her match in James Mason’s devilish robber. Florid direction and zesty performances make this one a must.

Misery abounds in Bank Holiday, a portrait of unhappy lives nearing melting point on a sweltering August day. Lockwood and John Lodge communicate their characters’ thoughts with economy and subtlety. A stark and original film, it has a lovely coda.

Love Story, a wartime melodrama, boasts the familiar sight of Rank darlings Lockwood and Patricia Roc scrapping over a man. Margaret plays a dying pianist, whose last days of happiness with mysterious loafer Stewart Granger are threatened by chain-smoking actress Roc. Highly Dangerous is a sprightly Cold War thriller: tense and involving, with good chemistry. But the nicest surprise is Give Us the Moon, a delightfully unpredictable screwball comedy from Val Guest. Peter Graves plays a moneyed layabout who falls in with a group of displaced Russian swindlers, led by fantasist Nina (Lockwood).

There’s little plot, but dozens of laughs and Jean Simmons is terrific in her first film, as an unschoolable anti-capitalist with a yen for cigarettes. < less

View all 8 of Rick Burin’s reviews

Ratings for this DVD

Average Rating
Log in to place your vote!

Film Details

Cast

James Mason, Michael Redgrave, Jean Simmons, Roland Culver, Hugh Williams, Patricia Roc, Margaret Lockwood, Stewart Granger, Peter Graves

Technical Details