The White Unicorn

The White Unicorn
Original British trade ad
Directed by Bernard Knowles
Produced by Harold Huth
Screenplay by Moie Charles
A. R. Rawlinson
Robert Westerby
Based on novel The Milk-White Unicorn by Flora Sandström[1]
Starring Margaret Lockwood
Joan Greenwood
Ian Hunter
Dennis Price
Music by Bretton Byrd
Cinematography Reginald H. Wyer
Edited by Robert Johnson
Production
company
Distributed by General Film Distributors (UK)
Release date
 30 October 1947 (London)(UK)
Running time
 97 minutes
Country United Kingdom
Language English

The White Unicorn is a 1947 British drama film directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Margaret Lockwood, Joan Greenwood, Ian Hunter and Dennis Price.[2] Kyra Vayne appeared as the singer. It was made at Walton Studios by the independent producer John Corfield, and released by General Film Distributors. The film's sets were designed by Norman G. Arnold.[2] It was also known as Milkwhite Unicorn and Bad Sister..[3]

Plot

At a home for delinquent girls, a troublesome girl (Joan Greenwood), swaps reminiscences with the warden (Margaret Lockwood), who recounts her own unhappy marriage, divorce and tragic death of her second husband.[4]

Cast

Production

The film was made at Nettleford Studios.[5] It was used to help build up Joan Greenwood who Rank were trying to make a star.[6]

Some scenes had to be re-cut for release in the US, notably when Margaret Lockwood and Dennis Prices's characters went on honeymoon together - their twin beds were too close together.[7]

Reception

According to trade papers, the film was a "notable box office attraction" at British cinemas in 1947.[8]

AllMovie called it "A "woman's picture" if ever there was one";[9] but Bosley Crowther in The New York Times was less sympathetic, calling it "...not an especially dramatic or otherwise appetizing serving of entertainment";[10] whereas Variety wrote "...his romantic melodrama will have rough handling by the highbrows, but should prove a box office winner. Story is on hokey side, but a tearjerker."[11]

References

  1. ↑ Goble, Alan (1 January 1999). "The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film". Walter de Gruyter – via Google Books.
  2. 1 2 "The White Unicorn (1947)".
  3. ↑ British Film Star Irked by Censors: 'Silly,' Says Margaret Lockwood in Trans-Atlantic Phone Chat Schallert, Edwin. Los Angeles Times (1923-Current File) [Los Angeles, Calif] 9 Mar 1947: B1.
  4. ↑ "The White Unicorn". The Australian Women's Weekly. 16 (10). 14 August 1948. p. 26. Retrieved 28 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Old-time players at studio party". The Australian Women's Weekly. 15 (7). 26 July 1947. p. 36. Retrieved 28 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "BRITISH FILMS". The Sun (2326). Sydney. 9 November 1947. p. 17. Retrieved 28 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Margaret Lockwood's fame brings problems". The Australian Women's Weekly. 15 (23). 15 November 1947. p. 32. Retrieved 28 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ Robert Murphy, Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939-48 2003 p209
  9. ↑ "The White Unicorn (1947) - Bernard Knowles - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related - AllMovie".
  10. ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F00EEDD1338E13ABC4952DFB0668383659EDE?
  11. ↑ "Variety (November 1947)".
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