Review Gevevieve (1953)

[Doctor Omega]

Genevieve is a 1953 British comedy film produced and directed by Henry Cornelius and written by William Rose. It stars John Gregson, Dinah Sheridan, Kenneth More and Kay Kendall as two couples comedically involved in a veteran automobile rally. The main theme of the musical score was composed and performed by Larry Adler. Composer Graham Whettam was commissioned to write the orchestral score incorporating Larry Adler's tune. Dance numbers were added by Eric Rogers.

The comedic tone of Genevieve was established by the following disclaimer at the end of the opening credits:

For their patient co-operation the makers of this film express their thanks to the officers and members of the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain. Any resemblance between the deportment of our characters and any club members is emphatically denied—by the Club.

This was meant to underscore the fact that the actual event portrayed in the film was, as stated in its Official Entry Regulations, "NOT A RACE."

• John Gregson as Alan McKim
• Dinah Sheridan as Wendy McKim
• Kenneth More as Ambrose Claverhouse
• Kay Kendall as Rosalind Peters
• Geoffrey Keen as First traffic policeman
• Reginald Beckwith as J.C. Callahan
• Arthur Wontner as Elderly Gentleman
• Joyce Grenfell as Hotel proprietress
• Leslie Mitchell as Himself – Newsreel Commentator
• Michael Balfour as Trumpeter (uncredited)
• Stanley Escane as Newsreel cameraman (uncredited)
• Fred Griffiths as Ice Cream Seller (uncredited)
• Charles Lamb as Publican (uncredited)
• Arthur Lovegrove as Hotel doorman (uncredited)
• Edward Malin as Spectator (uncredited)
• Edie Martin as Guest at Hotel (uncredited)
• Michael Medwin as Father to be (uncredited)
• Harold Siddons as Second traffic policeman (uncredited)
• Patrick Westwood as Motor mechanic (uncredited)

The original choices for the male leads were Guy Middleton and Dirk Bogarde who turned the film down, with their roles given to Kenneth More and John Gregson respectively.

Dinah Sheridan says that the studio wanted Claire Bloom to play her part.

More recalls "the shooting of the picture was hell. Everything went wrong, even the weather.

 

[Carol]

A classic! So much of its time and so loveable because of it - from the hotel receptionist who would turn Basil Fawlty grey with horror to the outrage of the drunken trumpet challenge... an absolutely blissful, slightly remorseful, evisceration of the male ego at fairly slow speeds, with some insane hats, too.

 

[Doctor Omega]

Your thoughts on this movie.....

It's time for the annual London to Brighton antique car rally, and Alan McKim and Ambrose Claverhouse are not going to let their friendship stop them from trying to humiliate each other. Along the way, some old jealousies are kindled to the point where the two men decide to have a "friendly" wager on who will be the first back to London. Once the competitive juices get all fired up, however, it quickly becomes a nasty, hotly-contested affair. Ambrose's companion must suffer through her "maiden voyage" on the rally, while Mrs. McKim, on the other hand, is a long-time sufferer of her husband's obsession.

 

[Doctor Omega]