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Turn the Key Softly

  • 19531953
  • 1h 21m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
620
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Turn the Key Softly (1953)
  • Crime
  • Drama
Follows three women through their first day of freedom after they are released from prison.Follows three women through their first day of freedom after they are released from prison.Follows three women through their first day of freedom after they are released from prison.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
620
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jack Lee
  • Writers
    • John Brophy(novel)
    • Maurice Cowan(screenplay)
    • Jack Lee(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Yvonne Mitchell
    • Terence Morgan
    • Joan Collins
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jack Lee
  • Writers
    • John Brophy(novel)
    • Maurice Cowan(screenplay)
    • Jack Lee(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Yvonne Mitchell
    • Terence Morgan
    • Joan Collins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 25User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos39

    Joan Collins in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Joan Collins in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Fred Griffiths and Kathleen Harrison in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Joan Collins, Kathleen Harrison, and Yvonne Mitchell in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Joan Collins in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Joan Collins in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Yvonne Mitchell in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Yvonne Mitchell in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Yvonne Mitchell in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Yvonne Mitchell and Russell Waters in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Kathleen Harrison in Turn the Key Softly (1953)
    Kathleen Harrison and Thora Hird in Turn the Key Softly (1953)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Yvonne Mitchell
    Yvonne Mitchell
    • Monica Marsdenas Monica Marsden
    Terence Morgan
    Terence Morgan
    • Davidas David
    Joan Collins
    Joan Collins
    • Stella Jarvisas Stella Jarvis
    Kathleen Harrison
    Kathleen Harrison
    • Granny Quilliamas Granny Quilliam
    Thora Hird
    Thora Hird
    • Mrs. Rowan, landladyas Mrs. Rowan, landlady
    Dorothy Alison
    Dorothy Alison
    • Joanas Joan
    Glyn Houston
    Glyn Houston
    • Bobas Bob
    Geoffrey Keen
    Geoffrey Keen
    • Mr. Gregoryas Mr. Gregory
    Russell Waters
    • George Jenkinsas George Jenkins
    Clive Morton
    Clive Morton
    • Waltersas Walters
    Richard Massingham
    • Bystanderas Bystander
    Edward Evans
    Edward Evans
    • Commissionaireas Commissionaire
    • (uncredited)
    Lyn Evans
    • Butcheras Butcher
    • (uncredited)
    Hilda Fenemore
    • Granny's Daughteras Granny's Daughter
    • (uncredited)
    Fred Griffiths
    • Newspaper Selleras Newspaper Seller
    • (uncredited)
    Mavis Sage
    • Young girlas Young girl
    • (uncredited)
    Simone Silva
    • Marieas Marie
    • (uncredited)
    Vi Stevens
    • Barmaidas Barmaid
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jack Lee
    • Writers
      • John Brophy(novel)
      • Maurice Cowan(screenplay)
      • Jack Lee(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Dame Joan Collins (Stella) is shown outside a cinema where "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" (1952), starring Gregory Peck, is playing. Joan subsequently co-starred with Gregory in "The Bravados" (1958).
    • Goofs
      Near the start of the film, a Piccadilly train arrives at an underground station bearing the destination board Uxbridge. When it arrives at the next station the destination has inexplicably changed to Hounslow.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Secret History of Our Streets: Portland Road (2012)
    • Soundtracks
      Plaisir d'Amour
      (uncredited)

      Music by Johann Martini

      Arranged by Mischa Spoliansky

    User reviews25

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Sadly overlooked mini masterpiece.
    An overlooked masterpiece of direction, editing and photography... and Maurice Cowan's screenplay is a cracker, too. The writer went on to find bigger success scripting some Norman Wisdom gems soon after this movie was made. Throw in some of the finest British acting talents of the day and you can't go wrong.

    The title of the movie becomes apparent towards the end and it's a treat to discover.

    Three very different women are released from prison at the same time (eight o clock, precisely) and the movie follows the subsequent day and evening as they get used to their freedom.

    Monica (Yvonne Mitchell) has 'done' a year for something she didn't do yet she still carries a torch for the no-good spiv who put her inside. She gets a second chance at a new life and the film is largely focused on her story and whether or not she'll let her head rule her heart this time around.

    Stella (Joan Collins) faces a similar choice between good and evil but in her case, her devoted man is good and her previous lifestyle is bad. Who will win this tug of war? (Joan Collins looks beautiful and sexy! She was just 20 when this movie came out and this is one of her first credited parts.)

    Granny (Kathleen Harrison) is perhaps the most tragic character. She's a good-natured shoplifter who has lost her daughter's love and is kept going by her own affection for her dog, Johnny. (Kathleen Harrison may not be a name you recognize but you'll almost certainly know her face. Probably most famous as Mrs Thursday in the mid-sixties. She lived to the ripe old age of 103!)

    There is a lot to marvel at, even if the story doesn't do it for you. London in the fifties is shown off with extraordinary clarity and with plenty of subtle reminders of how London used to be. The sign in the butcher's shop reads 'You can re-register here!' and the Brylcreem ads dotted the scorched, red brick walls. Piccadilly Circus and London's West End are a treasure to see in the post-war capital.

    All the peripheral characters are a joy to watch and we shouldn't overlook the parts they play in bringing this movie to life. Thora Hird, Geoffrey Keen, Dorothy Alison... and many, many more!

    The three stories blend perfectly together with dollops of tragedy, drama and ultimately hope. There's so much going on in every scene that the usherettes will be sweeping up the peanut shells, Capstan butts and discarded Walls ice cream tubs before you've had a chance to get seated comfortably!

    Now showing on YouTube!
    helpful•35
    1
    • khunkrumark
    • Jun 26, 2017

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 3, 1954 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Okreni kljuc polako
    • Filming locations
      • Portland Road, Notting Hill, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Maurice Cowan Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 21 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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