The White Unicorn Explained

The White Unicorn
Director:
Producer:Harold Huth
Screenplay: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:Bretton Byrd
Cinematography:Reginald H. Wyer
Editing:Robert Johnson
Studio:John Corfield Productions
Runtime:97 minutes
Country:United Kingdom
Language:English
Budget:£150,000 (approx)[2]

The White Unicorn is a 1947 British drama film directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Margaret Lockwood, Joan Greenwood, Ian Hunter and Dennis Price.[3] 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.[3] It was also known as Milkwhite Unicorn and Bad Sister (its title in the US).[4]

Plot

At a home for delinquent girls, a troublesome girl, swaps reminiscences with the warden, who recounts her own unhappy marriage, divorce and tragic death of her second husband.[5]

Cast

Production

In December 1946 Phyllis Calvert was scheduled to play the lead.[6]

Filming began in March 1947.[7] The film was made at Nettleford Studios.[8] It was used to help build up Joan Greenwood who Rank were trying to make a star.[9]

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.[10] Lockwood's daughter had a small role.[11]

Reception

Box office

According to trade papers, the film was a "notable box office attraction" at British cinemas in 1947.[12]

Critical

AllMovie called it "A "woman's picture" if ever there was one";[13] but Bosley Crowther in The New York Times was less sympathetic, calling it "...not an especially dramatic or otherwise appetizing serving of entertainment";[14] 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."[15]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Goble, Alan. The Complete Index to Literary Sources in Film. 1 January 1999. Walter de Gruyter. 9783110951943. Google Books.
  2. Web site: Gerry Humphreys. British Entertainment History Project. 21 Aug 1995. Alan. Lawson.
  3. Web site: The White Unicorn (1947). https://web.archive.org/web/20160808134929/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6bab9e97. dead. 8 August 2016.
  4. News: British Film Star Irked by Censors: 'Silly,' Says Margaret Lockwood in Trans-Atlantic Phone Chat. Schallert, Edwin. Mar 9, 1947. Los Angeles Times. B1.
  5. News: The White Unicorn . . 16 . 10 . 14 August 1948 . 28 September 2017 . 26 . National Library of Australia.
  6. British Film Briefs. Variety. 16. 4 Dec 1946.
  7. Book: Tims, Hilton. Once a wicked lady : a biography of Margaret Lockwood. 145. 1989 . W.H. Allen. 9781852271800 .
  8. News: Old-time players at studio party . . 15 . 7 . 26 July 1947 . 28 September 2017 . 36 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: BRITISH FILMS . . 2326 . Sydney. 9 November 1947 . 28 September 2017 . 17 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Margaret Lockwood's fame brings problems . . 15 . 23 . 15 November 1947 . 28 September 2017 . 32 . National Library of Australia.
  11. Book: Lockwood, Margaret. Lucky Star: The Autobiography of Margaret Lockwood. Odhams Press Limited. 1955. 132.
  12. Book: Realism and Tinsel: Cinema and Society in Britain 1939–48. Robert Murphy. 2003. 209. 9781134901500.
  13. Web site: The White Unicorn (1947) - Bernard Knowles - Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related. AllMovie.
  14. News: Movie Reviews. The New York Times. 27 August 2021.
  15. Web site: Variety (November 1947). Variety. November 1947.