Hand in Hand (1961)

A little Roman Catholic boy and a little Jewish girl become best friends despite the prejudice that surrounds them.

Director:

Philip Leacock

Writers:

Diana Morgan (screenplay), Leopold Atlas (adaptation)

Stars:

Loretta Parry, Philip Needs, John Gregson

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Loretta Parry	...	Rachel Mathias
Philip Needs	...	Michael O'Malley
John Gregson	...	Father Timothy
Sybil Thorndike	...	Lady Caroline
Finlay Currie	...	Mr. Pritchard
Derek Sydney	...	Rabbi Benjamin
Miriam Karlin	...	Mrs. Mathias
Arnold Diamond	...	Mr. Mathias
Kathleen Byron	...	Mrs. O'Malley
Barry Keegan	...	Mr. O'Malley
Martin Lawrence	...	The Cantor
Barbara Hicks	...	Miss Roberts
Denis Gilmore	...	Tom (as Dennis Gilmore)
Peter Pike	...	Harry
Susan Reid	...	Priscilla

Storyline

In the town of Springfield, England, adolescents Michael O'Malley and Rachel Mathias strike up a friendship despite their less than friendly first meeting at school. That friendship becomes so strong that they spend whatever time they can together, Mike even forgoing playing his regular games with his old friends just so that Rachel won't feel left out. Their friendship is primarily based on reaching for somewhat collective dreams, those that seem to be at the top of the list being going to London to have tea with the Queen, and going big game hunting in Africa. They feel they are stronger as a pair than they are as individuals. Their respective parents support the friendship, which they may not have if it was ten years later and the friendship was a romantic one, their parents who would like their respective offspring to marry within their own religion, Mike's family who is Catholic, Rachel's being Jewish. The first test to their friendship is the possibility of Rachel's family ...

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Plot Keywords:

friend | jewish | catholic | oneness | anti semitism | 

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Taglines:

Here is Drama That Will Open Your Eyes and Awaken Your Heart!

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Genres:

Drama | Family

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin Hebrew

Release Date:

7 April 1963 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Estrela e a Cruz

Filming Locations:

St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Helen Winston Productions, Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

78 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although filmed in England in the summer of 1960 under the title "The Star and The Cross", it was for some reason kept on the shelf and not released in the UK until April 7th, 1963, by which time the title had been changed to "Hand in Hand" and it went out on release on the ABC circuit as the supporting film to the Tony Hancock comedy "The Punch and Judy Man".

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Goofs

Father Timothy wouldn't have needed to ask Michael if Rachel was a friend of his, since he had already met them together on at least one previous occasion, when they were on their way to buy a newspaper. So conceivably he would have already known who Michael was referring to.

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Quotes

Michael O'Malley: What's the matter?
Rachel Mathias: It's Hector.
Michael O'Malley: Has he run away?
Rachel Mathias: He's dead. I looked in his cage this morning and he wouldn't wake up. Mummy said it was old age.
Michael O'Malley: Poor old Hector.
Rachel Mathias: I wrapped him in my best hankie.
Michael O'Malley: We'll have a proper funeral.
Rachel Mathias: Let's.
Michael O'Malley: We'll bury him just outside the door. I'll be the priest.
Rachel Mathias: But, but he's a Jewish mouse. He's mine.
[...]

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Soundtracks

Now Is the Month of Maying
(uncredited)
Written by Thomas Morley
Performed by Loretta Parry with chorus
[Rachel sings the song with the school choir in front of the student body]

User Reviews

Hand In Hand Should be on VHS or DVD

Hand in Hand shows that friendship can surpass any other barrier. It also shows how a child feels when he discovers that people are different. This is an excellent movie which should be put on either VHS or DVD This is a movie that helps both children and older people understand differences between people of different backgrounds. Michael wants to be Rachels friend and then he discovers how different their backgrounds are and feels that his friendship with Rachel is threatened because of that fact. I saw this movie when it first came out in 1961 and saw it again when it was shown on the Children's Film Festival in 1967 and again in 1968 and 1972. I have not seen it since but I can recall the scenes and the duologue as if I had gone seen the movie yesterday.I would not hesitate to recommend this movie to anyone