Sidewalks of London

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Sidewalks of London

1938

1h 24m

Comedy

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2 Reviews

65%

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500+ Ratings

Street performer Charles Staggers (Charles Laughton) befriends orphan and would-be dancer Libby (Vivien Leigh) and adds her to his act. When the group meets songwriter Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison), Libby ambitiously pursues him. A quarrel with Charles over the matter leads to Libby dropping him from a show arranged by Prentiss. Soon after, Libby takes up with Prentiss, and his songs make her famous all over London. Charles takes Libby's rejection hard and allows it to nearly ruin his career.

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It all seems hardly real.

Rated: C+

Sep 9, 2010

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Sean Axmaker

Turner Classic Movies Online

... a lively street picture set in the intersection where struggling performers and hustlers meet high society and theater folk.

Sep 4, 2010

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SICKS6SIX S

Lawton and Leigh together, what a treat, two great actors, not the best of stories or plots but some great acting, well worth watching, 75% from me, but I think Lawton is in the top ten of great actors of all time,

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/10/24

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Steve D

The stars make it work.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/10/24

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Audience Member

gr8 cast in this UK drama

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Audience Member

Leigh and Rex Harrison (quite young here) in this second pairing together is a rather charming rags to riches tale as Leigh plays a thief turned street entertainer under the tough love guidance of a cockneyed Charles Laughton. With Pygmaleon influences, it is also easy to see a bit of where Hepburn got her Eliza Doolittle influence as well. Ironic, because Rex Harrison would play in the 60's film adaptation...essentially playing a variation of the Laughton role. But this film carries only subtleties of these two other film incarnations, and stands wonderfully on it's own. Leigh and Laughton are excellent.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/07/23

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Audience Member

A wonderful, early performance from Vivien Leigh. She is matched beautifully by Charles Laughton. This was an unexpected delight when I first found and viewed it. Try and find this movie and watch two dynamic leads and a very touching story.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

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Audience Member

wonderful performances by laughton and leigh as struggling street performers. laughton is especially heartbreaking.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

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Tim Whelan

Director

Charles Laughton

Charles Staggers

Vivien Leigh

Liberty

Rex Harrison

Harley Prentiss

Tyrone Guthrie

Gentry

Larry Adler

Constantine Dan

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Synopsis

Street performer Charles Staggers (Charles Laughton) befriends orphan and would-be dancer Libby (Vivien Leigh) and adds her to his act. When the group meets songwriter Harley Prentiss (Rex Harrison), Libby ambitiously pursues him. A quarrel with Charles over the matter leads to Libby dropping him from a show arranged by Prentiss. Soon after, Libby takes up with Prentiss, and his songs make her famous all over London. Charles takes Libby's rejection hard and allows it to nearly ruin his career.

Director: Tim Whelan
Producer: Erich Pommer, Charles Laughton
Screenwriter: Clemence Dane
Production Co: Paramount
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Runtime: 1h 24m

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