Now and Forever *** (1956, Janette Scott, Vernon Gray, Kay Walsh, Jack Warner, Pamela Brown) – Classic Movie Review 13,688

Janette Scott stars in her first adult role in the 1956 British Technicolor romantic drama film Now and Forever as an upper-class girl who elopes with a garage mechanic to Gretna Green.

Producer/ director Mario Zampi’s 1956 British Technicolor romantic drama film Now and Forever stars Janette Scott, Vernon Gray, Kay Walsh, Jack Warner, and Pamela Brown.

The sweet young Janette Scott tries valiantly hard to please as a posh English teenage girl called Janette Grant who elopes with a young man, garage car mechanic Mike Pritchard (Vernon Gray), to get married in Gretna Green in Scotland, chased by her disapproving divorced mum Mrs Grant (Pamela Brown) and his equally disapproving dad Mr Pritchard (Jack Warner).

Now and Forever is a dated, novelettish comedy drama that, with its caricatured roles, never quite rings true, especially after the all-too-easy, all-too-predictable U-turn change of views by the parents at the resolution.

But Scott is charming, the whole vintage cast is very welcome, and the film is brightly made by Mario Zampi and shot by Erwin Hillier in nice Technicolor and widescreen. Co-script-writer Michael Pertwee plays a reporter. It is based on the 1953 play The Orchard Walls by R F Delderfield, who is also the other co-script-writer, though it feels like a movie rather than a filmed stage play. Plus, there is a wealth of actors to spot in uncredited roles.

Scott appears with her real-life mother Thora Hird (uncredited) as Maggie the Maid, Irene Handl appears as Middle-Aged Woman, Hattie Jacques is the Woman in Sports Car with Dog, George Woodbridge is Policeman Charlie, Russell Waters is Sgt Gibson, Brian Wilde is policeman, Harold Goodwin is lorry driver, and Carol White has a Bit Part.

Cast: Janette Scott, Vernon Gray, Kay Walsh, Jack Warner, Pamela Brown, Wilfrid Lawson, Sonia Dresdel, David Kossoff, Ronald Squire, Guy Middleton, Charles Victor, Marjorie Rhodes, Moultrie Kelsall, Bryan Forbes, Michael Pertwee, Jacqueline Curtiss, Jean Patterson, Henry Hewitt, Harold Goodwin.

Now and Forever is directed by Mario Zampi, runs 91 minutes, is made by Mario Zampi Productions [Anglofilm] and Associated British, is released by Associated British-Pathé, is written by R F Delderfield and Michael Pertwee, is shot by Erwin Hillier, is produced by Mario Zampi, and is scored by Stanley Black.

Release date: 21 February 1956 (London).

British actress Janette Scott (born 14 December 1938) became a popular leading lady, but gave up her career on marrying singer Mel Tormé in 1966.

Canadian actor Vernon Gray (March 26, 1928 – February 17, 2021) had a short career in the 1950s.

© Derek Winnert 2025 – Classic Movie Review 13,688

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