Connecting Rooms
{{Short description|1970 British film by Franklin Gollings}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2016}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Connecting Rooms
| image = 220px
| caption = Original British quad poster
| director = Franklin Gollings
| producer = Franklin Gollings
Harry Field
| story =
| writer = Franklin Gollings
| starring = Bette Davis
Michael Redgrave
Alexis Kanner
Kay Walsh
Olga Georges-Picot
| music = John Shakespeare
| cinematography = John Wilcox
| editing = Jack Slade
| studio = Hemdale
| distributor = Paramount Pictures
| released = {{Film date|1970|5||US|1971|5|9|UK:Reading|1972|4|27|UK: London}}
| runtime = 103 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Connecting Rooms is a 1970 British drama film written and directed by Franklin Gollings. The screenplay is based on the play The Cellist by Marion Hart.{{Cite web |title=Connecting Rooms |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150027958 |access-date=25 August 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a7e17f5|title=Connecting Rooms (1969)|work=BFI|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20230317164337/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a7e17f5|archivedate=17 March 2023}} The film stars Bette Davis, Michael Redgrave, and Leo Genn.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmovie.com/movie/connecting-rooms-v87779/cast-crew|title=Connecting Rooms (1971) - Franklin Gollings - Cast and Crew - AllMovie|work=AllMovie|accessdate=1 October 2023}}
Plot
The plot explores the relationships shared by the residents of a seedy boarding house owned by dour Mrs. Brent. Among them are busker Wanda Fleming, who is flattered by the attention paid her by rebellious pop songwriter wannabe Mickey Hollister, and former schoolmaster James Wallraven, who has been accused of pedophilia and reduced to working as a janitor in an art gallery.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}}
Cast
- Bette Davis as Wanda Fleming
- Michael Redgrave as James Wallraven
- Alexis Kanner as Mickey Hollister
- Kay Walsh as Mrs. Brent
- Leo Genn as Dr. Norman
- Olga Georges-Picot as Claudia Fouchet
- Richard Wyler as Dick Grayson
- Mark Jones as Johnny
- Gabrielle Drake as Jean
- Brian Wilde as Ellerman
- John Woodnutt as doctor
Production
The Paramount Pictures release was filmed on location in Bayswater in 1969. It was given a limited release in the United States in 1970, then had some regional UK showings in 1971 but only appeared in London in 1972.
Scenes in which Wanda Fleming played the cello featured close-ups of the hands of British classical cellist Amaryllis Fleming.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/02/arts/amaryllis-fleming-73-cellist-devoted-to-baroque-music.html?pagewanted=print|title= Amaryllis Fleming, 73, Cellist Devoted to Baroque Music|newspaper=New York Times|date=2 August 1999| first=Allan|last=Kozinn}}
In a scene set in the West End theatre district, a theatre marquee lists Margo Channing as one of the cast of the play it is housing. Margo Channing was the name of the character Bette Davis portrayed in All About Eve.
Critical reception
In his review in Film Threat, Phil Hall describes the film as "a compelling and often heartbreaking drama" and adds "Redgrave, who was never the most subtle screen actor...manages to reign in his hammy tendencies and find the angst and isolation in the disgraced teacher's existence." Regarding Davis, Hall writes: "When her secret is revealed, Davis' character says absolutely nothing. Instead, her body freezes slightly while her eyes (yes, those Bette Davis eyes) give a look which is initially shameful, but then suddenly appear to present endless relief. In her silence and her ocular expression, Davis achieves a state of grace which is astonishing to behold."{{Citation needed|date=June 2010}}
Time Out London wrote "Riddled with act and scene pauses...it's a fairly classic condensation of several fetishistic concerns endemic to British cinema."{{cite web|url=http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/69624/connecting_rooms.html|title=Time Out London review|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080814000954/http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/69624/connecting_rooms.html |archivedate=14 August 2008 }}
TV Guide calls it a "dull, sappy melodrama."{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/movies/connecting-rooms/review/111430|title=Connecting Rooms: Review|work=TVGuide.com|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110717115759/http://movies.tvguide.com/connecting-rooms/review/111430|archivedate=17 July 2011}}
References
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