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      The Holly and the Ivy

      1952 1h 23m Holiday Drama List
      Reviews 74% Audience Score 100+ Ratings Martin (Ralph Richardson) is a widowed British reverend who knows his parishioners better than his own children. Martin's detachment from his family is never more evident than at Christmas, when the family comes together to celebrate. While Martin's daughter Jenny (Celia Johnson) lives at home out of devotion, she doesn't have the heart to tell him that she wants to move out. Martin's children struggle to hide family secrets during the emotional reunion that brings back memories of World War II. Read More Read Less

      Critics Reviews

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      Mattie Lucas From the Front Row A great cast, including Celia Johnson and Denholm Elliot, add some heft, but the film ultimately feels like a missed opportunity. Rated: 2.5/4 Jan 4, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      acsdoug D A nice drama with good dialogue and fine performances all around. I thought the movie kind of petered out rather than come to an adequate conclusion, however. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/24 Full Review Audience Member Excellent, lovely film to watch at christmas time , nicer times. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review s r A complicated English Christmas drama. It made me want to visit the town of Weymouth. TCM Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review ashley h The Holly and the Ivy is a decent film. It is about an English minister and his family reunited at Christmas time. Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson give good performance. The screenplay is a little in places. George More O'Farrell did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the drama. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review joe m If you think this is going to be your typical Dickensian Christmas tale from the Brits - think again! "The Holly and the Ivy" is an absolutely wonderful film that rises above the usual holiday treacle and delivers a sharp, heartfelt and actually very moving faith-based message. And by faith-based, I don't mean as a Christian-centric perspective, yet a rather ecumenical one. "The Holly and the Ivy" starts with five scattered members of a family - two aunts, an uncle, a brother and a sister - all being invited to the home of Parson Gregory (Ralph Richardson) and his daughter, Jenny (Celia Gregory), for Christmas. What ensues as they all gather is the quiet of repressed feelings that then all burst forth with the airing of various secrets and grievances. However, everyone overcomes their various issues as the film nicely wrap up in a Christmas catharsis! Yes, the movie does come across as a bit like a stage production with its obvious, sappy set-ups. Yet, the great cast delivers it all brilliantly and thus doesn't make it seem as maudlin as it could have been. And the scenes and sense of an English Christmas are so fantastically rendered! "The Holly and the Ivy" will definitely going on to my go to list of regular Christmas movies! Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Frances H A great cast in a movie adapted from the stage, but not really a Christmas classic, although worth a one-time watch. But unlike real classic Christmas stories, it is not one you'd want to watch every year. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/25/18 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

      Cast & Crew

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      The Holly and the Ivy

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis Martin (Ralph Richardson) is a widowed British reverend who knows his parishioners better than his own children. Martin's detachment from his family is never more evident than at Christmas, when the family comes together to celebrate. While Martin's daughter Jenny (Celia Johnson) lives at home out of devotion, she doesn't have the heart to tell him that she wants to move out. Martin's children struggle to hide family secrets during the emotional reunion that brings back memories of World War II.
      Director
      George More O'Ferrall
      Screenwriter
      Anatole de Grunwald
      Production Co
      London Film Production, De Grunwald Productions
      Genre
      Holiday, Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Runtime
      1h 23m