Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4695 in DVD
• Released on: 2001-11-12
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Full Screen, PAL, Special Edition
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
For anyone who travels the congested roads of Britain these days the utterly delightful Genevieve will provoke a wistful, nostalgic sigh of regret for times gone by when there were no motorways, traffic jams were almost non-existent and friendly police motorcyclists riding classic Nortons (without helmets) cheerfully let people driving vintage cars race each other along country lanes. Even in 1953, Henry Cornelius’ gentle comedy must have seemed pleasingly old-fashioned, concerned as it is with the antics of two obsessive enthusiasts on the annual London to Brighton classic car rally. The principal quartet could hardly be bettered: though John Gregson is something of a cold fish as Genevieve’s proud owner, the radiant warmth of Dinah Sheridan as his long-suffering wife more than compensates. Kenneth More is ideally cast in the role of boastful rival enthusiast and Kay Kendall has possibly the best comic moment of all when she astonishes everyone with her drunken trumpet playing.

Cornelius also directed Ealing’s Passport to Pimlico, so his sure eye for gently mocking and celebrating British eccentricities is never in doubt. The screenplay by (American writer) William Rose now seems like an elegy to a way of life long disappeared: the pivotal moment when Gregson stops to humour a passing old buffer about his love of classic cars comes from a vanished era of politeness before road rage; as does the priceless exchange between hotel owner Joyce Grenfell and her aged resident: "No one’s ever complained before", says the mystified Grenfell after Gregson and Sheridan moan about the facilities, "Are they Americans?" asks the old lady, unable to conceive that anyone British could say such things. Genevieve is both a wonderful period comedy and a nostalgic portrait of England the way it used to be.

On the DVD: the "Special Edition" version of Genevieve has a decent new documentary with reminiscences from Dinah Sheridan (still radiant), the director of photography and the film’s editor, who talk about the challenges of filming on location. Most treasurable of all, though, is legendary harmonica player Larry Adler, who remembers his distinctive score with much fondness and is not at all embittered by his Hollywood blacklisting, which meant he was denied an Academy Award nomination. There’s also a short piece on some of the locations used (which for economic reasons were mostly in the lanes around Pinewood studios), cast biographies and a gallery of stills. The 4:3 ratio colour picture looks pretty good for its age and the mono sound is adequate. --Mark Walker

Special Features
4:3 Full Frame
English
English
Region 2
Mono English
Mono
A Profile Of Genevieve Documentary
Biographies
Stills Gallery
Interactive Menus

Synopsis
As the result of an impulsive wager, two couples go on a cross-country race in their old roadster cars. As the race ensues, the competition develops into a slapstick free for-all. Academy Award Nominations: Best story and Screenplay, Best Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

Customer Reviews

Genevieve
If you like English humour and actors who are excellent at their craft, then you can't go past 'Genevieve'. Comedy and a little bit of ongoing English 'history' is a great mix. John Gregson and Kenneth More battle it out on the road in the London to Brighton rally much to the bemusement of their lady partners.

Kay Kendall's trumpet solo is a laugh and the tricks that John and Kenneth get up to are delightful. A true taste of English comedy and theater from an age when life was a little less complicated and thoroughly genuine.

I highly recommend this film to all, but have one criticism ...... the film re-mastering was a little disappointing..... but not enough to put you off a truly wonderful film

Totally irresistible British Classic
This film about the London to Brighton veteran car run and the rivalry between Ambrose Claverhouse (Moore), Alan McKim (Gregson) and their respective ladies Rosalind Peters (Kendall) and Wendy McKim (Sheridan) is one of the great British Classics, so bound up with our national eccentricities it is possibly incomprehensible anywhere else.

The fine comic acting full of high spirits enraptures one from the very beginning, and soon the cars become characters in the headlong race to the coast.

Enormously enjoyable one is left with two enduring memories, first Larry Adler’s haunting theme, but even more for Kay Kendall and her unforgettable performance personally playing the trumpet whilst supposedly drunk in a night club in Brighton. Whenever one thinks of Kay one thinks of this scene, but this vivacious young actress made other fine films before her early death from leukaemia aged 33, check out “Blythe Spirit” with Rex Harrison.

Incredibly the Rank organisation considered the film a total failure unsuitable for release, and it only found its way onto a commercial screen as a substitute for another film that was unavailable. After that all is history as they say.

The indifferent quality of the photography cannot be blamed on the digital remastering, it was always there as the director insisted on shooting regardless.

Everything!
It is difficult to find words to describe this charming, witty and entertaining film. The cast is impeccable, the directing inspirational and the story so charming! Watch the special features, to find out more about the film; it is well worth it. Take yourself back to better times and climb aboard Genevieve, for a run to Brighton you'll never forget!