Thursday, March 25, 2021

21 Days Together (1940)

Despite the star power in this film it fails to shine that brightly. Larry (Laurence Olivier) is a wasteful young man with a highly successful lawyer (Leslie Banks) brother on the verge of being a judge. Larry is in love with Wanda (Vivian Leigh), though they both have a surprise when they arrive at Wanda's home and find her husband (Esme Percy) there! 

The husband is happy to leave his reluctant wife's life again in return for money. Larry flies into a rage and the husband dies by accident. Larry leaves the body in the alleyway and is persuaded by his brother not to admit his crime. Larry's resolve fails when he discovers an innocent former priest and now beggar (Hay Petrie) has been accused of the crime... Larry decides he will confess to save the beggar, but first he will enjoy 21 days of happiness with Wanda...

A decent film but little more. Leigh and Olivier give a rather soppy performance, though Banks is superb as the lawyer who has everything in his grasp but his wasteful brother could ruin it all for him. A little melodramatic though the scenes in Southend-on-Sea are excellent fun.