Review: So Long at the Fair

Set in the late 1800s during the Paris World’s Fair (AKA World Expo), young British woman Jean Simmons seems to have lost her brother (the underrated David Tomlinson) somewhere in between having a night on the town, and waking up in the hotel the next day. Only problem is, his room seems to have vanished too! And the somewhat uncooperative hotel staff (notably stern-looking, patronising hotel manager Cathleen Nesbitt) claim to have never seen him, nor is there a record of his registration at the front desk! Even the local police and British consul (Felix Aylmer) are somewhat dismissive of the woman’s claims (though the latter still attempts to help her). Her only ally appears to be a nice young British artist (Dirk Bogarde), who agrees to help her (he can validate a sliver of truth in Simmons story and suggests searching for further slivers) get to the bottom of it. But is there anything to get to the bottom of? Is it not all in her head? Does she even have a brother?

 

Thoroughly engrossing 1950 mystery from co-directors Terence Fisher (“The Horror of Dracula”, “The Curse of Frankenstein”, “The Hound of the Baskervilles”, and countless other Hammer efforts) and Anthony Darnborough (a producer of such films as “Quartet”), plays out fascinatingly, if a little too similar to Hitchcock’s superior “The Lady Vanishes”. Apparently it was based on a famous urban legend and Hitch himself apparently rather liked this film, essentially reusing the idea for an episode of his TV show. It also gives us a nice pairing in Simmons (never better) and Bogarde, as well as fine roles for Aylmer and a Mrs. Danvers-esque Nesbitt. The ending might not be as good as all of the build-up, but this is tops on the B-level. In particular, it effectively conveys the isolation, fear, and frustration of being in a foreign, almost alien country with people either unable or unwilling to understand you (there is a surprising amount of un-subtitled French spoken in the film). The screenplay is by Hugh Mills (“Blanche Fury”, “Prudence and the Pill”) and Anthony Thorne (“Bad Lord Byron”), from the novel by the latter. One to look out for if it comes on the TV sometime.

 

Rating: B-

 

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