It Started in Paradise ** (1952, Jane Hylton, Ian Hunter, Terence Morgan, Muriel Pavlow, Martita Hunt) – Classic Movie Review 13,572

The 1952 film British Technicolor drama film It Started in Paradise is set in the cut-throat world of haute couture, and stars Jane Hylton, Ian Hunter, Terence Morgan, Muriel Pavlow, and Martita Hunt.

Director Compton Bennett’s 1952 film It Started in Paradise is set in the cut-throat world of haute couture, is written by Marghanita Laski and Hugh Hastings (additional dialogue) based on a story by Marghanita Laski, and stars Jane Hylton, Ian Hunter, Terence Morgan, Muriel Pavlow, and Martita Hunt.

Jane Hylton grabs her chance at a big star role in a British glossy soap about a pushy upstart frock designer called Martha Watkins who shoves her established couturier boss Mme Alice (Martita Hunt) out of business, until years later Martha eventually finds that Alison (Muriel Pavlow), a talented girl she took on from school, is tugging at her tailcoats and Alison is now taking over as the star designer.

It Started in Paradise is a diverting enough, glossy soap-opera drama, with a fair sense of fashion-house atmosphere and a strong whiff of the period. It is notable for the Technicolor cinematography of Jack Cardiff. Obviously showing off its costume designs are another main item of this women’s picture. Though there was trouble, according to Muriel Pavlow: ‘They engaged a nice young woman who had produced some fine designs, but she had no experience of dressing films. About a third of the way through it became apparent that what she was doing was a disaster. So another designer was brought in to finish off the film and from then on we all began to look rather smarter.’ Sheila Graham is credited as the costume designer.

It is also notable for the appearances of Brit stalwarts Ian Hunter, Ronald Squire and Harold Lang, plus a clutch of famous names in walk-on roles. The Rank Organisation liked Kay Kendall’s turn as a rich bitch customer, Lady Caroline Frencham, and gave her a well deserved contract.

Also in the cast are Brian Worth, Ronald Squire, Harold Lang, Kay Kendall, Barbara Allen, Naomi Chance, Conrad Phillips, Arthur Lowe, June Brown, Dana Wynter, Bill Travers, and Mara Lane, with Joyce Barbour as Lady Burridge, Margaret Withers as Miss Madge, Diana Decker as Crystal Leroy, Audrey White as model Gwen, Dorinda Stevens as Flo the barmaid, Anna Turner as Lil the barmaid, Frank Tickle as Mr. Paul, Helen Forrest as Maureen, Avis Scott as journalist, Alan Gifford as American captain, Bruce Seton as club manager, and Valerie Mewes as model.

Muriel Pavlow recalled: ‘The story was fairly Peg’s Paper. Compton Bennett didn’t whip us along as he should have done in this one.’

The film was made at Pinewood Studios, starting on 17 March 1952. It was released on 28 October 1952.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,572

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