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 (based on a story by)

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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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English Latin Hebrew

Release Date:

7 April 1963 (UK)

Also Known As:

A Estrela e a Cruz

Filming Locations:

Associated British Elstree Studios, Elstree, Herts, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Associated British Picture Corporation (ABPC), Helen Winston Productions

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 (1961)" and it went out on release on the ABC circuit as the supporting film to the Tony Hancock comedy "The Punch and Judy Man (1963)".

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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 to whom Michael was referring.

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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

Romeo and Juliet Lives!

I saw this movie in the early 60's. I was nine or so years old. It had a profound effect on me. You see, I was not brought up in the kind of family that practiced this kind of prejudice. So the story was both a revelation of something I didnt know about, and a lesson in life. My step daughter was in a college class that required her to ask questions on a survey. In that survey the participants were asked to say the first thing that came to their mind after each question. One of the questions was "What was the most influential movie you have ever seen."

My answer was "Hand in Hand."