The Story of Esther Costello *** (1957, Joan Crawford, Heather Sears, Rossano Brazzi, Ron Randell, Lee Patterson, Fay Compton, John Loder, Denis O’Dea, Sidney James) – Classic Movie Review 3,252

Joan Crawford stars as a wealthy woman who aids a deaf-blind teen orphan (Heather Sears) from her Irish village, in the high-anguish 1957 British drama film The Story of Esther Costello.

Director David Miller’s awkward but very sincere, well-acted and watchable 1957 British drama film The Story of Esther Costello stars Joan Crawford as rich society lady Margaret Landi, who finds herself coming to the aid of 18-year-old girl Esther Costello (Heather Sears, aged 22), deaf and blind since the accident which killed her mother.

Talked into helping, Margaret uses all her charms to make the young Esther happy, grows to love her as a daughter, and tries educate and possibly heal her, and sets up a charitable trust to help other little girls live a better life. 

There are loads of tears, the odd smile and a warm tone to help this tall story adapted by screen-writer Charles Kaufman from the 1952 novel by Nicholas Monsarrat, the author of The Cruel Sea, to go down quite palatably.

Crawford and young Sears (in her star debut after a couple of small roles) are exceptional, even when the screenplay and handling wobble, uncertain both of pitch and volume.

Sears won the 1958 BAFTA Film Award for Best British Actress.

It is set in Esther’s village in Ireland, but is filmed at the London Film Studios, Denham Studio, Denham, Buckinghamshire, England. Unexpectedly, the famously difficult Crawford got on very well with the upcoming English actress Sears.

Rossano Brazzi co-stars as Margaret Landi’s womanising husband Carlo Landi, and there are key star support roles for Lee Patterson as Harry Grant and Ron Randell as Frank Wenzel.

It also stars Fay Compton, John Loder, Denis O’Dea, Sidney James, and Bessie Love.

Also in the cast are Robert Ayres, Maureen Delaney, Estelle Brody, June Clyde, Sally Smith, Megs Jenkins, Andrew Cruickshank, Diane Day, Victor Rietti, Sheila Manahan, Tony Quinn, Janina Faye and Harry Hutchinson.

Crawford, then on the Pepsi-Cola board of directors, ensured that Pepsi is prominently displayed on signs in an airport lobby.

Film debut of Peter Brown as Boy in Airport (uncredited) and June Clyde’s last movie as Mrs Forbes.

It premiered in London on August 15, 1957.

Imagine advertising a film like this these days: ‘This powerful story is UNUSUAL but will not offend any emotionally mature person of either sex.’ Or this: ‘RECOMMENDED for our adult patronage, and the most informed teenagers.’ However, it was reported as a tremendous money spinner at the British box office in 1957.

The cast include Joan Crawford as Margaret Landi, Rossano Brazzi as Carlo Landi, Heather Sears as Esther Costello, Lee Patterson as Harry Grant, Ron Randell as Frank Wenzel, Fay Compton as Mother Superior, John Loder as Paul Marchant, Denis O’Dea as Father Devlin, Sidney James as Ryan, Bessie Love as Matron in Art Gallery, Robert Ayres as Mr Wilson, June Clyde as Mrs Forbes. Sally Smith as Susan North, Maureen Delaney as Jennie Costello, Harry Hutchinson as Irish publican, Tony Quinn as Irish pub customer, Janina Faye as Esther Costello, as a child, Victor Rietti as Signor Gatti Megs Jenkins as Nurse Evans Andrew Cruickshank as Dr Stein, Sheila Manahan as Esther’s Mother, Charles Lloyd Pack as Dr Blake, Ewen Solon as Christine Brown’s Father, Peter Brown as Boy in Airport, and Wilfrid Brambell as man in pub.

The Story of Esther Costello [The Golden Virgin] is directed by David Miller, runs 104 minutes, is made by Romulus Films and Valiant Films, is released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Charles Kaufman, based on the novel by Nicholas Monsarrat, is shot in black and white by Robert Krasker, is produced by Jack Clayton, David Miller and James Woolf, is scored by Georges Auric, and is designed by George Provis and Tony Masters.

There was an uncredited first screenplay by Samuel Fuller.

It was released on DVD by Turner Classics on 25 November 2014 as part of their Joan Crawford in the 1950s collection.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 3,252

Link to Derek Winnert’s home page for more reviews: http://derekwinnert.com/