Review of The Halfway House

I had high hopes for this once I discovered that it existed and was available to view at the newly-named Southbank Centre. In the event I was disappointed in the extreme. The acting in the main veers from Balsa wood to out-and-out mahogany and you can see what's coming from the first reel. Speaking of first reels this one seems very clumsy in its exposition - basically we're in Ten Little Indians territory i.e. we need to establish several assorted people converging on a specific location - telegraphing its intention with banner captions - Cardiff, The West End, etc - then going into seemingly endless 'business' to explain exactly who everyone is and why they are particularly unhappy and in need of the kind of R&R that can only be provided by an inn (shades of The Enchanted Cottage) that no longer exists. Father and daughter Mervyn and Glynis Johns are the hosts and apart from them the only half-decent acting comes from Francoise Rosay. Arguable novelty appeal.