Aunt Clara

Margaret Rutherford had few opportunities for leads except for the Jane Marple films. But when she got a role like the one in Aunt Clara she ran away with it.

This is happy and whimsical tale of a woman who is left a small fortune and a lot interesting holdings from her uncle A.E, Matthews. Matthews had some interesting interests that a pious old soul like Rutherford would normally not be dealing with. Like thoroughbred race horses, greyhound dogs, and a bordello where the working girls are getting a bit long in the tooth..

Rutherford may seem a bit dotty, but she has a lot of innate wisdom and things work out for the best though a bit roundaboutly.

This is a fine role for Margaret Rutherfprd and a must for her fans.

Margaret Rutherford claimed her favorite movie role was as Aunt Clara and I can understand why. When wealthy, irascible A.E. Matthews dies, he leaves everything to Miss Rutherford: his crooked gambling game, his pub where they sell watered whiskey, his brothel (run by Joyce Compton), his runaway bastard daughter Jill Bennett, and his misogynistic spiv of a manservant, Ronald Shiner. She's been running a slum mission and, playing the sort of vague, pleasant, mildly crackpotted character she did so well -- she has zoomed to the top ranks as Madame Arcati in BLITHE SPIRIT -- everyone thinks they can pull a fast one on her, but in her soft, vague way, she shows herself to be cannily able to redeem through kindness -- and willing to punish the truly wicked when necessary.

As usual, Miss Rutherford shines in a role that looks to have been written specifically for her talents. Even Ronald Shiner, a comic actor who does not usually appeal to me, acquits himself well. Keep an eye out for Sid James in a small but very funny role as a racetrack tout.

"Aunt Clara" is a cute little British comedy. While it's not exactly a laugh out loud movie, it is sweet and worth seeing.

When the story begins, an old man is preparing for his 80th birthday party. You soon see his various relatives after they receive his invitations....and each of them is coming simply because the guy is rich and they are expecting him to remember them in his will. But when the man dies, everyone is surprised when the bulk of his fortune goes to Clara (Margaret Lockwood), a nice old lady who isn't the least interested in his fortune. And, in fact, she's the only one who didn't come to the birthday party because of this.

What exactly did his will give Clara? Well, she isn't sure and the Uncle's butler, Henry, is not exactly thrilled to tell Clara...in fact he quits! Why? Because the Uncle's hand was involved in all sorts of vices--crooked gambling, prostitution and more! But Clara insists Henry stays to help her and he does. In fact, he spends most of his time trying to trick her into thinking they're all legitimate businesses. What's next? See the film.

While I would never say that this is a great comedy, it is a clever one and well worth your time. I also appreciate how repeatedly the film makes choices I wouldn't have made...making the story a bit of a surprise and not filled with the expected cliches. Well worth your time.

"You don't know anything about dogs" - "I'm very fond of dogs".

That little exchange demonstrates the culture-gap between Henry (Ronald Shiner) and Clara (Margaret Rutherford), as he tries to shield her from the murky world of the greyhound stadium.

The odd couple have come together after the death of Clara's rich, unscrupulous uncle, who has bequeathed her everything, as the only relative who has never shown any interest in his fortune - until now, when she wants to know how it was earned. A high-minded spinster who seeks to put the world to rights, she recruits the old man's butler, Henry, to help her investigate what he already knows are a lot of dodgy businesses. That greyhound-stable for one. A pub that waters the beer. A crooked fairground stall. A seedy brothel. And an accountant who pockets the maintenance due to an illegitimate daughter.

Her generous forgiveness of the wicked may not be very believable, but it provides for much comedy of contrast - his flash-harry crudeness, her exaggerated gentility. Watch for the statutory walk-on role for her strange, desperately-shy real-life husband, and a small part for the unknown Sid James, entirely in character as an on-course bookie. The uncle is played by Edwardian relic A.E. Matthews, still in good resonant voice at 85. Don't be distracted by the scriptwriter's name Kenneth Horne - it wasn't the radio comedy star, but a different one, much the same age.

This was Margaret Rutherford's favourite film and it's not difficult to see why as she is given full reign to her comic abilities. She is charming throughout and works well particularly in scenes with Ronald Shiner. She plays 'Clara' a middle - aged spinster who is left the task to clean up the acts of several members of her family who are engaged in rather unsavoury practices when her elderly uncle dies. As an angel of mercy, she visits each of her relatives in turn showing them the errors of their ways with hilarious results. Her last visit takes her to Fay Compton who employs a rather dilapidated brothel which includes a group of dishevelled ladies who work there. This scene is particularly moving and full of pathos. Unfortunately this film is rarely shown on British television - a great loss.