Painted Boats [The Girl on the Canal] *** (1945, Jenny Laird, Bill Blewitt, Robert Griffith, May Hallatt, Madoline Thomas, Grace Arnold, Harry Fowler, Megs Jenkins) – Classic Movie Review 4692

Director Charles Crichton’s warm and appealing 1945 Ealing Studios wartime drama tells the story of the adventures of two families – the Smiths and the Stoners – working on the colourfully painted canal boats on the Grand Union Canal between the English Midlands and London.

Ted Stoner (Robert Griffith) does not know that he has made Mary Smith (Jenny Laird) pregnant when he sets off to battle the Germans in World War Two. Bill Blewitt and May Hallatt play play Mary’s father and mother. Madoline Thomas, Grace Arnold and Harry Fowler plays Ted’s mother, sister and brother. Megs Jenkins plays the barmaid.

With the screenplay by Stephen Black, this is an involving, characterful Ealing Studios drama that floats atmospherically along in its short running time of 63 minutes. The canals and English countryside are haunting locations, exquisitely captured in Douglas Slocombe’s glorious black and white photography, and the boats look extremely pretty too.

The acting of the young players is modestly pleasing, though Laird, Fowler and Jenkins stand out. Given the title, perhaps the film cries out for colour, which obviously Ealing couldn’t afford in 1945, but then we wouldn’t have Slocombe’s glorious black and white photography.

The commentary is written by Irish poet Louis MacNeice and spoken by James McKechnie, and Michael McCarthy is credited for story contribution.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4692

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