The Sidewalks of London (1938) User Reviews

Long live the buskers of London

[jotix100 · 8/10 · 18 April 2004]

The street performers of London were a delightful bunch of people that eked out a living by doing what came to them naturally: singing, dancing, reciting poetry, or just plain entertainment, directed at the crowds of the West End of London. They belong in a time capsule. The buskers were a local phenomenon.

I discovered this forgotten film at the CUNY cinematheque. It is a film that shows the talents of the young Vivien Leigh, Rex Harrison and more established stars like Charles Laughton. In Tim Whelan's film they all come alive in this tale of an impossible love story.

The star turn of Vivien Leigh in the movie is just incredible. Not only could she act, but she was an accomplished dancer as well. Charles Laughton is perfect as the man who is vain enough not to admit to his own age because of the disparity between him and his beloved Libby. There are other delightful performances by Tyrone Guthrie, Larry Adler and other English theatre actors of that era.

This film should be seen, or at least shown on television more often.

The ancient art of busking

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 24 April 2005]

When St. Martin's Lane first came out it was not given any release in the United States, I suppose because American audiences would not be attuned to buskers. We have no equivalent of that here.

Nevertheless it's a nice film. Charles Laughton is the head of a troop of buskers (British street entertainers)who inhabit and perform in and around the London theater district. The group takes in street waif Vivien Leigh and it's obvious she's got real talent. And theatrical composer Rex Harrison appreciates her charms even more than her talent.

Laughton is not a man who takes betrayal gladly as he sees it. The rest of the film you'll have to see for yourself.

It's nice to see both Harrison and Leigh in good parts before they became big stars. Laughton as always is fabulous, he's got the London cockney accent down pat.

After Vivien Leigh became a star with the release of Gone With the Wind, St. Martin's Lane made it to the states in a limited run. It was no big hit in Great Britain for Laughton who co-produced it with Erich Pommer, the second of three films they did. But Vivien Leigh's success helped them recoup a bit.

So many greats in ONE place

[sk-f · 8/10 · 25 September 2005]

I was in awe of this movie. THREE great actors right off the bat: Rex Harrison, Charles Laughton AND the incomparable, Vivian Leigh thrill the senses! I was pleased just to look at them & watch them apply their craft. I wasn't as excited about the plot. It was the actors I enjoyed seeing. However, the movie was great in it's historic setting. Of course, it took place in the 1938's present day. But it was like a history lesson in the arts. Street performers still perform on the streets of New York. It was interesting to see it in the London setting. Viewing live 1930s entertainment was such fun & historically educational. Much more enjoyable watching it "live" than reading it in a dusty old book.

Mad for Viv? Get Your Fix Right Here.

[rajah524-3 · 7/10 · 7 September 2010]

I'm forced by conscience to admit right off that I've been a complete sap for Vivien Leigh since the moment I laid eyes on her sitting between the "Tarlton Twins" on the steps at Twelve Oaks in the opening seconds of GWTW. But in decades of looking to find that =particular= Vivien Leigh again, I was everlastingly frustrated.

I found over time that I had fallen for the Vivien the Vixen, the face that could send men happily off to (civil) war in delirious dreams of marching home to her and "happily ever after" ...and the cocksure certainty of precisely that effect upon any man who dared to gaze into that face for more than a few seconds.

One wonders how much she was aware of the thermonuclear force of that face in real life. Olivier is gone, and so is she, so we'll probably never know. But we do know this: Vivien's best friend as a youngster was the formidable -- and slightly older -- Maureen O'Sullivan, she of "Tarzan the Apeman," and no lightweight herself when it came to bowling men over.

While there are hints of Scarlet in Vivien in "Waterloo Bridge" and "That Hamilton Woman," none of the other films I know of allow her to be the manipulative, coercive, self-obsessed, narcissistic, pouting diva that she was as Libby and Scarlet.

Had Selznick seen rushes or scenes from "Sideawalks..." before or after he cast Leigh in her legend maker? Did he see Scarlet right there in black and white? One wonders. Because Libby =is= Scarlet O'Hara regardless of the surrounding scenery and cockney word-chewing.

The similarities do not end there. Virtually every expression and and mannerism is fully formed and on display in Libby the busker =and= Libby the diva. Harrison is a more sophisticated, straightforward and cynical version of Leslie Howard's Ashley Wilkes. And Thomas Mitchell's Gerald O'Hara looks and sounds a =lot= like Lawton's Charlie Staggers.

I'm forced to think that Selznick =did= see "Sidewalks..." and that he saw it far more than once. But in whatever event, those who caught the Viv bug as badly as I did years ago should be pleased to see her living right up to our expectations after so many other relative disappointments.

There was a time before evil and a time before death...

[mayo2338 · 1 January 2003]

Vivian Leigh charms and beguiles as does Charles Laughton and Rex Harrison,all of them in their innocence and unaffected excellence. A needful but blithe and hopeful era in London, after the internecine slaughter of World War I and the unimaginable evil of World War II and the Holocaust. To experience these three and others in a blitheful , happy episode of innocent merriment will uplift thee.

Miss Leigh at her most beguiling

[howardmorley · 7/10 · 18 September 2009]

Reading the comments above from American users I was surprised about their apparent ignorance of London buskers or street performers.I am sure that they had their equivalent in New York's theatre district in 1938.Vivien was an accomplished dancer (witness her role of Myra the ballet student in "Waterloo Bridge" (1940) with Robert Taylor, and she had the opportunity to show off her terpsichorean ability in this film.I agree however with many of the comments above praising the acting of the three stars, Charlie Laughton, Rex Harrison and of course Viv.Nowadays, from what I can see buskers perform in one place in London's theatre district, at a big paved off area at Covent Garden - (the Health & Safety executive lobby is wide & all powerful!) Obviously this film has been overshadowed by Viv's more famous films, but I awarded it 7/10 as it shows off her versatility.My only criticism was her difficulty in maintaining an authentic Cockney accent but of course drama schools in the 1930s drummed out regional vernacular accents from their students, long before the current trend of casting actors with authentic sounding voices.

My copy is on a "Double Kino Video Feature" along with Henry Fonda's "Wings of the Morning".Users who like this film should also seek out "Storm in a Teacup" who apart from Viv & Rex has Cecil Parker.

Good early Vivien Leigh picture

[xtreme12601 · 7/10 · 4 August 2010]

I bought this film because I am in to old classic films.This film is an enjoyable period piece about a pickpocket that finds her way to stardom in the theater but realizes that she got there the wrong way.It really invokes the time and place it depicts.I thought Vivien Leigh was good but Charles Laughton really made the picture.His acting is really the highlight of this picture.His performance is very convincing and gives a real sense of how he would be on the stage.Rex Harrison really has a bit part to play as Liberty's lover and sponsor but he acts pretty well.There are a few musical numbers that I enjoyed."Spoiler", The scene between between Liberty and Charles in her bedroom was my favourite scene in the whole movie.Overall I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anybody who is into early cinema .

A neglected treasure

[Silents · 9/10 · 3 May 2006]

This is a wonderful story of love, ambition and sacrifice among the buskers (street performers) of London. Everybody's good, but Laughton and Leigh will stay in your mind and your heart long after you've seen this great film.

Laughton's performance should be studied by every acting student. He gives us a Charlie Staggers who is funny, resourceful, honest and pathetic and with a great capacity to love and do right by others. He is a simple and good man with a deep soul, and his audition in the theatre at the climax of the picture is both sad and uplifting.

Viven Leigh demonstrates a great talent and the characteristics that made her so successful the following year as Scarlett O'Hara in "Gone With the Wind." In this film she begins as a self righteous and petty thief and by the end she has grown to become a highly successful but humbled actress. Leigh carries this change superbly and makes it completely believable. By any measure it is a great performance.

"Sidewalks of London" is also very well written, directed and edited. I rank this as one of the best English language films of the 1930s.

all so young!

[blanche-2 · 7/10 · 6 November 2012]

"Sidewalks of London" or "St. Martin's Lane" (American title) from 1938 is an amazing little film starring three tremendous stars: Vivien Leigh, Charles Laughton, and Rex Harrison. And that's not all. None other than Tyrone Guthrie, one of the great impresarios of the theater, is a supporting player, as is the blacklisted composer Larry Adler who finally made England his permanent home; and Broadway star David Burns, a two-time Tony award winner, who died on stage in 1971.

The story concerns "buskers" (street performers) in London's theatre district/ One day, while Charles Staggers (Laughton) is doing his thing and people are dropping coins in his hat, a deft little con artist named Liberty (Libby) (Leigh) steals money from him and then steals a gold cigarette case from a gentleman (Harrison) in a coffee shop.

Charles follows her and gets the case from her to turn it in to the police for the reward, but not before he has seen her rehearse a dance number. He adds her to the act.

When she meets Harley Prentiss (Harrison) again, he has no idea she's the one who stole his case, and he thinks she has great potential for the stage and takes her under his wing. He also falls in love with her.

Charles, of course, is in love with her, too, and goes into a funk after she abandons the buskers.

A good movie made historically interesting by the presence of these stars who are top-notch. Leigh is as gorgeous as she is delightful, Laughton is brilliant, and Harrison foreshadows his Henry Higgins role by 17 years or so.

The thing I can't get over is how incredibly young Laughton and Harrison were! This is a lovely film, and Laughton will break your heart one minute and have you smiling the next. See it.

Forgotten Classic

[peacham · 10/10 · 22 September 1999]

I cannot praise this film enough. ST. MARTIN'S LANE captures the feeling and mood of the time so well. The performances are outstanding. In one film you have 3 of the centurie's greatest actors Rex Harrison, Vivian Leigh, and Charles Laughton.

Vivian Leigh was never more fetching,gutsy or charming.not even in Gone with the wind or waterloo bridge. Harrison make the most of his typical leading man role and Laughton evokes such sympathy. it is his finest performance as well. my onlt question is why has this gem been almost forgotten? I was lucky enough to catch it on television about 8 years ago. it is only now being released on video.My advice...purchase this film,you need it in your personal collection !

A lovely heartwarming and uplifting drama

[1930s_Time_Machine · 7/10 · 14 May 2023]

This is mislabelled as a comedy whereas it's a sensitive drama with similar themes to A STAR IS BORN and PYGMALIAN.

It's a lovely gentle picture about being happy by accepting your lot in life. It's about what makes us contented. Charles Laughton gives a fabulous portrayal of a down and out London busker living on a few bob a day. He's one of life's sweet, good natured nobodies but he's happy. When he meets Vivien Leigh's Liberty, a not particularly pleasant but ambitious young woman he wonders whether he should have done something more with his life.

Although unrealistic, Liberty the young beggar girl subsequently attracts the attention of wealthy Rex Harrison and before you know it, she's one of the in-crowd. This is England in the 1930s so her acceptance as one of their own by the caviar eating, champagne quaffing set is about as likely as a black girl marrying the leading man in a 1930s American picture.

One thing maybe in her favour is her inexplicably upper class accent. Didn't they have dialect coaches back then? She's meant to be living rough on the streets but sounds like she's just graduated from RADA. I don't think Vivien Leigh's heart was in this because she didn't even try. At least Charles Laughton did some sort of working class accent - no idea what on earth it was meant to be but it sounded sort of authentic.

Vivien Leigh did not become a superstar because of her astonishing beauty - she was a magnificent actress. She doesn't however seem that committed to this film so consequently her character, Liberty doesn't feel that genuine. Perhaps it was because she and Charles Laughton really didn't like each other. Neither of them were known for their easy going nature so it was never going to be the happiest of productions. Even when she was young she was considered to be very temperamental and petulant so just like in the plot of this film itself, when she found herself working for a chubby, unattractive gruff Yorkshireman (this film was made by Laughton's company so he was her boss), she resented him. A case of life mirroring art?

She's still ten times better than a lot of actresses in films then so unless you're expecting 'exceptional' you won't mind. ...But anyway, despite her mediocre performance, an unrealistic rose tinted glossing over of class discrimination, Rex Harrison being blander than bland, the picture is actually completely engrossing and a joy to watch. It leaves you with a lovely warm feeling afterwards! The reason for this is one hundred percent down to Laughton's utterly delightful and believable performance which is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. This is not just one his own greatest performances, it one of the best performances by anyone of the whole decade.

A treat for film coinnesseurs

[Eva Ionesco · 9/10 · 27 November 1999]

This is a rare treat for coinnesseurs, a film where three of the greatest actors of Hollywood, Rex Harrison, Charles Laughton, and Vivien Leigh, strut their considerable stuff! They were all still relatively young in 1938, but already you can see the promise of great things to come, for the three, especially Laughton, who was already one of the world's finest actors.

In many ways the story resembles Harrison's later role as Professor Higgins in "My Fair Lady"(1964). Laughton and Leigh play buskers in the street, and Harrison plays a toff who gives Leigh a chance at stardom. Laughton plays quite a similar role to his later "Hunchback of Notre Dame" (1939) who falls in love with the girl but recognises he is too ugly for her, and eventually contents himself with her kindness towards him. You can see Laughton's superb acting skills, when she kisses him, and his eyes shine with satisfaction and pride, as they wave goodbye to each other. It is truly a precious moment in films, a moment to savour.

The following year saw the release of Leigh's "Gone With The Wind" and of course "The Wizard of Oz", two of the greatest films ever made, so minor films like this tended to be forgotten quickly. It's worth taking another look, though, at this film, which deserves far more recognition than it got.

Primitive but Worthwhile

[wright7700 · 6/10 · 12 October 2005]

Vivien Leigh is the major draw to this somewhat primitive 1930's era film. It is hard to believe that Gone With the Wind was made only the next year. As always, Miss Leigh adds a certain vitality to any work that she did. The plot was simple an easy to understand, and the movie runs less than 90 minutes. More could have been done to develop the characters or resolve issues at the end of the film. What was Liberty's background that made her homeless? Why did she want to help the others after she "made it big?" The street performers are probably hard for Americans to understand, especially that long ago.

It is easy to see from her work here why Vivien Leigh got other major roles as she grew exponentially in her abilities during the 1930's. The facial expressions and spirit are clearly there, but there were many limitations to this vehicle for her great talent.

Worth a look for Leigh fans or those seeking period pieces. Oh how life has changed in 60 plus years.

A busker's life

[AAdaSC · 4/10 · 14 August 2023]

Charles Laughton works the streets of London around St. Martin's Lane as a busker entertaining the theatre crowds as they wait to attend their performances. He has a couple of mates he hangs around with as they work through their routines. His forte is a particularly unriveting recital of prose. Who on earth wants to listen to someone reciting poems that don't even rhyme? A foolish life choice. He encounters and incorporates pickpocket Vivien Leigh (Liberty) into his group and uses her as a dancer. These grown-up street urchins scrape through life on the earnings of their day-to-day busking. Leigh gets noticed and taken out of this set-up and the film deals with the parting of the ways between Laughton and Leigh. Can they be re-united on the big stage?

The film has an interesting setting but totally unrealistic characters and terrible accents. No-one seems to be able to keep a consistent accent. Posh or poor? Neither. How about both randomly mixed in! The dynamic of older ugly man and younger attractive female doesn't ring true either, especially with the romantic undercurrent. Rex Harrison (Harley) is thrown in as a love interest but actually just provides zero interest!

Buskers can be pretty intrusive and annoying, providing an unwanted racket and then cheekily asking for money. It's begging. We need to become more intolerant of rubbish entertainment and call it out instead of sitting infront of TV's endless stream of talent(less) shows that sets people's minds backwards. How many times have you seen an audience whoop and cheer when a talentless nobody shouts a note during a slow song instead of singing it. It's the difference between a singer (Dolly Parton) and a shouter "Whitney Houston". Houston absolutely murdered "I will always love you" and people want to emulate her style. Very disappointing. I've gone off-topic.

Nothing wrong here, but...

[jokersonyou · 7/10 · 28 June 1999]

Actually a very good story at the heart of this movie, but either far too less time spent on the love Leighton feels or way too much. Sticks out like a sore thumb when it is mentioned once. Otherwise genuine performances make this movie a treat.

Very good, but the end just didn't ring true to Vivian Leigh's character.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 18 April 2011]

The film begins with Charles Laughton playing a busker (a street entertainer). During his spiel to try to encourage donations from the crowd, a horrid street urchin (Vivian Leigh) rushes up and snatches his money. Later, he catches up with her and once again she behaves VERY badly--stealing something from a rich guy (Rex Harrison). Laughton sees this and once again pursues her in order to get the man's stuff in order to return it. But, once again, she screams and behaves horribly--which causes the police to chase them. With this VERY inauspicious introduction, Leigh and Laughton soon would become friends as well as business partners. So, soon she has joined with Laughton and his friends and their new act goes over well--and their finances improve.

A bit later, Leigh is recognized for her talents by Rex Harrison--who happens to be a a big-wig in the theatre circuit. He gives her a break and she hits the big-time. However, she STILL is the same selfish brat she was when the movie began and she badly mistreats poor Laughton. She does nothing to thank him, credit him for some of her ideas or does a thing to help him. In addition, when he proposes to him she rebuffs him and laughs at him! Nice lady, huh?

You could see from this performance that she would make a dandy Scarlet O'Hara. However, in a twist near the end, she uncharacteristically shows a tender side towards her old mentor and friend--but it just didn't work for me, as that was NOT the sort of character she'd been playing throughout the film. This reminded me of the uncharacteristic and ridiculous change Bette Davis' character underwent at the end of "Jezebel". In both cases, it took a truly exceptional movie and knocked its impact down a peg or two.

Without the unnecessary and unbelievable transformation, I'd have given this movie an 8 or 9. As it is, I think a 7 is fair. Worth watching but a poor ending.

Early in the film, you'll see a minstrel at the coffee shop--my how times have changed!

It's where the theatre crowds get warmed up for the main shows inside

[SimonJack · 7/10 · 16 October 2022]

St. Martin's Lane is in the heart of the theatre district in London's West End. The lane itself is just a few blocks long, so it hardly resembles Broadway in New York City. But, just as with Broadway, it has theatres on adjacent and surrounding streets. St. Martins Lane was the U. K. title of this film, "Sidewalks of London." This is a good example of when the different titles work best for the respective audiences. People in England would know that "St. Martin's Lane" is a story in the theatre district. Audiences in America and elsewhere would think "Sidewalks of London" is about things taking place on London sidewalks. Put the two together, and one has the plot in full for this film.

This is a very good comedy about the buskers who scratch out a living by entertaining the theatre crowds in waiting. They sing, dance, play instruments and recite plays for the folks waiting in the queues to enter theatres. I don't there's ever been anything quite like that on Broadway or anywhere else. The term, busker, comes from the mid-19th century, and refers to someone who entertains in a public place for donations. While that is common in many cities around the world, it's usually in city parks, on street corners, or public transport terminals. But, busker individuals and teams are regular phenomena who performed on the theatre district sidewalks for a living.

The cast for this film include some top names and many other established actors who won't be familiar to most movie fans beyond the mid-20th century. Charles Laughter is very good as Charles Staggers. He and two friends performed regularly as buskers. Vivien Leigh is a young lass who makes her way by picking pockets. Charles wants her to go straight and he brings her into their small group as a dancer. When producer Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison) sees them perform, he thinks he can make a star out of Leigh, whose name is "Liberty."

Sure enough, she becomes famous, and forgets her former friends. Charles leaves the guys and disappears. After some time of hitting the bottle, getting into scrapes, and going sober, he and Liberty reconcile. Leigh and Harrison are still young In their careers, and the only notable acting is by Laughton.

One special note about this film is the appearance of Larry Adler as Constantine Dan, a musician who works with Harrison's Prentiss. Adler was one of the greatest harmonic players of all time, and is credited with raising the mouth harp as a legitimate instrument of music. He does some remarkable harmonica playing in this film.

Here's a line by Laughton's Charles Staggers, in the film. "You're after justice and logic. There ain't no justice and there ain't no logic. The world ain't made that way. Everything's luck, see. And good temper And, if you can take a joke. The whole of life's a joke"

Oh, yes, there's also a record that London's theatre district has over New York. While Broadway has had some very long-running plays and shows, it doesn't come close to St. Martin's Lane. To see the longest-running play in the world, one has to go to St. Martin's Theatre. That's where Agatha Christie's "The Mousetrap" is playing. It has been playing in London since 1952.

Vivien Leigh lights up the screen and steals the picture

[ianlouisiana · 9/10 · 5 August 2007]

Bona Fide buskers have long been replaced by aggressive beggars,"Big Issue" vendors with mean - looking dogs and white guys with dreadlocks and body - piercings juggling tennis rackets that tend to intimidate rather than entertain theatre queues.Back in the forties and fifties you would happily throw a shilling to Wilson,Keppel and Betty lookalikes doing a sand dance in Shaftesbury Avenue or "The Happy Wanderers" street band playing their English Dixieland(they even made a couple of L.P.s for "Esquire" - now collectors' items).St Martin's Lane itself runs into the Charing Cross Road near Trafalgar Square and is at the heart of the West End theatre district.At the time the movie was made,buskers worked clearly delineated pitches,unwritten but fiercely enforced laws prevented them from working both sides of the street and there were indeed families of buskers as there were families of costermongers,both considered lucrative and honourable trades.

"St Martin's Lane" the movie contains the requisite warm - hearted cockneys, and patronising nobs.The London vernacular owes a lot to Mr Bernard Shaw,an impression further encouraged by both Mr C.Laughton and Mr R.Harrison who speak their lines with theatrical relish.It might even be a "Pygmalion" variation if you wish to see it as such,adding spice to Mr Harrison's characterisation with the benefit of hindsight. Whatever you might feel about that possible interpretation of the story, the undoubted crux of the whole show is Miss V.Leigh whose performance shouts "I'm a Star " from her first appearance on the screen.Rarely has an actress grasped a movie by the scruff of it's neck and dragged it up several grades single - handedly in so spectacular a fashion.She has innocence and joie de vivre,beauty and grace and the camera loved her. Try as Mr Laughton and Mr Harrison might,she cannot be upstaged. For all their bathos and charm respectively they have to take a back seat to Miss Leigh's explosion of talent and energy.Twenty years later what a wonderful Eliza Dolittle she would have made. No wonder she and her husband were two of the biggest names in the cinema and theatre for two decades. Her "English" period can be exemplified by "St Martin's Lane" and "Waterloo Bridge",two superb London - based movies that show her beauty at its most radiant and her talent in its first great blooming. Since her tragically early death,British Cinema has had no actress able to express the wide - eyed naivety of the ingenue so beautifully. Those of you to whom Miss Leigh means only Scarlett O'Hara or Blanche Dubois would do well to seek out either of those wonderful pictures.

Laughton and Leigh and Harrison

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 20 August 2022]

On the sidewalks of London, Charles Staggers (Charles Laughton) is a street busker performing to bored people waiting to enter the theater. Young thief Liberty (Vivien Leigh) steals his meager earnings. It elicits some laughter and a few more coins. He takes her under his wing with his partners. She attracts the attention of successful writer Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison).

I oscillate with this film. I would describe it as lesser Pygmalion. I don't really buy Vivien Leigh as some street urchin stealing to survive although there are darker paths to take. I don't really get her relationship with Charles. He seems to be stuck between mentor and jilted lover and neither. I don't get their chemistry. I read that they didn't get along in real life and maybe that's what I sensed. Sometimes, she does a bit of overacting. It is still interesting to see her. She always has her prima donna vibe. It also has some big musical numbers as well as the street performances for fans of that genre.

Enjoyable Surprise !!!

[olddiscs · 8/10 · 25 September 2005]

I never heard of this film..During my recent insomniac attacks The Sidewalks of London was shown on WLIW TV (It must have been aired @ 2 am..Long Island NY station) I missed the beginning by a few minutes..but thoroughly enjoyed this film..a wonderful surprise great story and a dream cast: Charles Laughton, Vivien Leigh and "sexy" Rexy Harrison all giving wonderful performances... was not a good copy however will be looking for a better in the future..Miss Leigh made this film I believe just before GWTW ..and she sings and dances surprisingly well as does Laughton Don't Miss ! The plot involves London Street entertainer, Laughton & Leigh are friends living together (with Ms. Leigh;'s {Liberty}family) barely making a living Laughton is older than Leigh loves her but along comes Rex.. and things change Leigh becomes a musical comedy star Laughton becomes a street begger and goes to jail for a time.. very moving .& fun also. Don't Miss!!

Laughton and Leigh Mesmerize

[atlasmb · 10/10 · 18 August 2015]

Chance brings together two denizens of the London streets, marking the beginning of a relationship that will irrevocably impact both lives. Charles Laughton plays the part of Charles Staggers, a charming busker with an inner dignity. Vivien Leigh is Liberty, the young girl who's resourceful enough to survive on her own, but in need of someone who cares. Individually, these two are among the most talented stars of their time, but we are lucky that they perform together in "Sidewalks of London", a film that is now among my favorites.

The film includes some catchy tunes and some wonderful camera work. They story is perfectly suited to its two stars. Laughton provides laughs and provokes tears, while Leigh--whose beauty shines as brightly as any seen before or since--equals Laughton in her emotional range. This film is a rare gem. It's only shortcoming is that it's too short, deserving a more developed story, like "A Star is Born" or "My Fair Lady".

The rest of the talented cast includes Rex Harrison. They create a charming world of London street life (outside the theatre) and onstage (inside the theatre).

There's a touch of irony in Liberty's fascination with Hollywood, given Leigh's dramatic turn as Scarlett the following year in "Gone with the Wind." Seeing her performance in "Sidewalks of London", it's no wonder she found her way to Hollywood's most celebrated extravaganza. But given a choice, I'll take her wonderful portrayal of Liberty.

Top cast in soapy film

[gridoon2024 · 5/10 · 9 February 2024]

Relatively few people appear to have seen this film, despite a top star trio. Perhaps it is because of the unappetizing British title ("St. Martin's Lane"? Seriously?), or perhaps because it is little more than a soapy variaton on the old "A Star Is Born" formula. The script is weak and takes too long to get started, to the extent that it ever does. The film does offer a chance to see Charles Laughton in a rare non-costume, non-heavy-makeup, non-period role, but he still has that tendency to hog the spotlight, which sometimes works and sometimes doesn't. Vivien Leigh is beautiful and has a wonderful scene (the film's best) when she dances alone in a dark room. Rex Harrison does not really have much to do. ** out of 4.

Surprisingly complex characters

[cherold · 8/10 · 21 March 2015]

This is an unusual movie set among London's street performers. It sets the stage well, as the crowds bustle and the earnest but unexceptional performers try earn a few coins.

The main characters are portrayed by the brilliant actors Charles Laughton and Vivien Leigh, both as good as they've ever been.

What I like about their characters, and their performances, is that they aren't the typical iconic characters you see in so many films of that period. Leigh is young, gorgeous, self-involved, and mercurial, but she also shows moments of caring and thoughtfulness. She is like young women I have known; the sort I would have crushed on in my twenties and would keep at arms length today, when I know better.

Laughton is generally a decent guy, yet he is also foolish, moody, and prone to bitterness. Drunkenly ranting on the stairs of his boarding house, he is both pitiable and frightening.

Neither character is entirely good nor bad, but it's the sort of movie where, depending on where you are in your life, you could see either as either. (Looking through the reviews on this site, Leigh's character is either a sadistic monster or an utter delight.)

Unfortunately, after creating a lovely world and two fascinating characters, the writers didn't seem to know quite where to take the story, which ends abruptly with a pat and unconvincing final scene. It wasn't so bad that it ruined the movie for me, but it does feel like the writers just shrugged at each other and said, we've written enough, let's just wrap this up. With a better ending, this could have been a true classic.

The supporting cast is also quite good, with Rex Harrison charming (although it's such a small part that I'm surprised to see some reviewers here raving as much about him as about Leigh and Laughton) and many fine character actors filling inhabiting their roles.

In spite of its imperfections, this is an unjustly obscure gem. If you have the chance to see it, do so.

Seven reasons why this film is excellent

[spotted-owl · 10/10 · 30 August 2013]

Here are seven reasons why "Sidewalks of London" (1938) is an excellent film: (1) great acting by the legendary film stars Vivien Leigh, Charles Laughton and Rex Harrison (2) good story contrasting the street buskers with theatre stars (3) location filming of London's theatre district (4) interesting portrayal of buskers (5) beautiful black and white cinematography (6) historical importance (7) excellent music score. The story involves themes of love, social class and ambition. Vivien Leigh is charming as a busker.

The movie was filmed on location at St. Martin's Lane, Shaftesbury Avenue, Cambridge Circus and Piccadilly Circus. ('Circus' refers to a round space at a street intersection.)

"Sidewalks of London" (aka "St. Martin's Lane") shows the interesting subculture of the buskers, who are singers, musicians and dancers that perform on the streets. The actual busker group "The Luna Boys" are in some scenes.

The film begins with a night scene of the theatre district. Neon signs glitter in the darkness. A pretty female busker sings "London Love Song" on the street. Charles Staggers (Charles Laughton) is a poetry-reciting busker who sees Liberty (Vivien Leigh) stealing a gold cigarette case. Liberty was raised in an orphanage, and now survives as a pickpocket.

Charles follows Liberty to a vacant house. In a beautiful scene, Liberty dances in the moonlight shining on the floor, to the music "Vivien's Waltz." Charles sees Liberty dancing and recognizes her talent.

Charles lives in a garret under the roof of a rundown Victorian apartment, and Liberty moves into one of the rooms. There are some nice scenes of the everyday life of the buskers. A cute black-and-white stray cat appears at the window of Charles' garret, which Charles takes in. Charles mends his clothes on his sewing machine. Liberty, who is 19 years old, bakes Charles a birthday cake, and gives him a party for his 40th birthday.

Charles, Liberty and some busker friends create a performance troupe. They sing, dance and play the harmonica in front of the Holborn Empire Theatre. Liberty is charming, dancing in her vaudeville costume of top hat, vest, and striped trousers.

Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison), a successful song writer, sees Liberty dancing and notices her ambition. He becomes her career mentor and her lover.

Liberty's career flourishes, and she gets the lead in an extravagant 1930s musical, titled "Straw Hat in the Rain." There are many backstage scenes of rehearsals. Liberty becomes a famous musical star, surrounded by fans requesting autographs.

One theme in the film is love. Charles is in love with Liberty, but his feelings are unrequited. Liberty has sentimental feelings of friendship toward Charles. In a poignant scene, Liberty arranges a theatre audition for Charles, but he realizes that he belongs with the lively,free-spirited buskers.

Another theme is social class. The wealthy theatre stars and patrons contrast with the street buskers. Charles' small garret contrasts with Harley Prentiss' posh Art Deco penthouse. His Art Deco apartment has mirrored walls, white furniture, glass block windows, and a magnificent view of the city.

Liberty and Charles now live in different worlds. Liberty lives in the glittering inside world of the theatre, and Charles lives in the outside world of the street buskers. The ending is bittersweet.

The performances of Leigh, Laughton and Harrison are superb. Liberty is ambitious and temperamental, yet also charming and sentimental. Charles is a boyish, boisterous man with a lot of heart. Harrison is excellent as the suave and sophisticated theatre insider.

The black and white cinematography is excellent. A sweeping camera shot shows the impressive London cityscape with St. Paul's Cathedral, immediately followed by a camera shot of the crooked chimney pipes on Charles' roof.

The night scenes are beautifully filmed, with high contrast between light and dark. Liberty's luminous face contrasts with the dark night background. The theatre lights glitter in the evening.

Vivien Leigh is always beautiful in her 1930s fashions. As a pickpocket, she wears a black beret, a man's tie, and a narrow skirt. After she becomes a star, she wears a beautiful white gown with a black hat and long black gloves.

This is a historically important film, because it shows the theatre district in 1938, before it was severely damaged in 1940-41, during World War II. The Holborn Empire Theatre, shown in the film, was destroyed in the Blitz. (See my posting on the message board for more on this topic.)

"Sidewalks of London" (1938) deserves a DVD with high quality digital remastering, and extras about London's theatre district, the buskers, and the great actors in the film. Highly recommended.

Wow

[mharlos · 9/10 · 9 September 2010]

Just delightedly discovered this movie, under the title St. Martin's Lane, on Turner Classics (its first showing there). My most vivid impressions:

Laughton's bitter tirade in the halls and stairway of the house, in his moment of disappointment...

How the superficially charming, but hard-edged character created by Vivien Leigh was a magnificent preview of her role the following year, in Gone With the Wind...

The brief but hard-hitting scene in which Tyrone Guthrie tells Liberty (Vivien's character) what he thinks of her...

Laughton's on-stage recitation of Kipling's "If"...

It is certainly a gem for all who, like me, adore the work of Charles Laughton. I also expect that any great fan of Vivien Leigh will deeply appreciate her performance here. And as a bonus, there are some bits of witty music-making by a true virtuoso of the harmonica.