When approaching So Long at the Fair (the title comes from the children’s song “Oh, dear! What can the matter be? Johnny’s so long at the fair”) it’s as well to remember that by and large British movies were considered very much inferior to the Hollywood product. The rare exceptions were usually signed by David Lean or Carol Reed — though the Ealing comedies were also gaining ground on the international scene. An unassuming little movie like So Long at the Fair would never be considered in that elite realm — nor should it be, nor should it be judged on that basis. It’s a relatively unassuming thriller that’s, admittedly, a little shy on the thrills. It is, however, quite well done, is occasionally surprising (the balloon accident is not something you expect in a film like this), and is definitely not devoid of wit. It even pokes fun at the standard British movie notion that all you need to set a movie in France (without leaving Pinewood Studios) is to hang a backdrop of the Eiffel Tower outside a window of the set.
The young Jean Simmons is quite effective as the young lady whose brother has not only disappeared, but, according to the blatantly shifty hotel staff (headed up by that bastion of insincerity Cathleen Nesbitt), he just plain never existed. The audience, of course, knows he did exist, but the hotel has done such a good job of erasing his presence that it seems quite impossible to prove he was ever there. Well, at least it seems like a good job until you examine it and the utterly preposterous business of the “vanishing room.” The film itself trips up the scheme with the handsome young artist (Bogarde) who had actually met the missing brother — and who, of course, comes to the aid of the beleagured sister. The studio, by the way, tried to promote a romance — at least in PR terms — between Simmons and Bogarde in an attempt to squelch the “rumors” of Bogarde’s sexuality. Unforturnately for them, Simmons ran off with Stewart Granger before the “romance” got any traction in the press.
The Hendersonville Film Society will show So Long at the Fair Sunday, June 21, at 2 p.m. in the Smoky Mountain Theater at Lake Pointe Landing Retirement Community (behind Epic Cinemas), 333 Thompson St., Hendersonville.
Before you comment
The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.