This is not a film I know at all – but when I read the Reviews on IMDB it seems that I will just have to see it.
It seems from what I have read that this is a film in some ways similar to ‘John and Julie’
‘Hand In Hand’ Starred Philip Needs and Loretta Parry as the children – and with John Gregson, Finlay Currie and Sybil Thorndike and the wonderful Kathleen Byron
Much of the filming was done in St. Albans – one of my own favourite places – in St Peters Street, A School in Hatfield Road and numerous other locations in the City
Although I have not yet seen the film, I have really enjoyed collating this article for the Blog
I couldn’t resist copying this post from Loretta Parry who had played Rachel in the film. This comment on imdb was from 2006
‘I am so thrilled to read the lovely comments on this little film. the reason being, I was the little girl who played Rachel all those years ago. I am now a middle aged lady with three grown children of my own. I live quietly,but busily. My children may be grown,but they always seem to need me. I am very lucky. What a privilege to have read such heartwarming comments,I didn’t think anyone remembered. My family have seen stills of various films I was in, but have never been able to show them Hand in Hand, which I have to admit, was my favourite. I would love them to see it, it could still be relevant today. THANK YOU SO MUCH. Your kind words really mean a lot to me.’
ABOVE
ABOVE
ABOVE:
Loretta Parry made another comment as below – this one in May 2011 :-
‘Again, I must thank you all for your very kind comments. This is Loretta Parry. Shown under my married name. Since I last posted, I have divorced, (amicably),and have had the extreme pleasure of becoming a Grandmother 3 times, to the 3 most beautiful little boys,the youngest born only a few weeks ago. I am coming up to the big 60 in July, and cannot say I’m too delighted about it. It seems only a couple of years ago,when I was having my own children, and just a short time before that,was at school myself. The years and life have been very kind to me, my children and Grandchildren have become my life, and I just couldn’t be more content. Thank you all so much for your continued interest in ‘Hand in Hand’.Long may it have such a positive impact on us all.’
Unusually rare photo book BELOW – Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film by Helen Winston, a screenplay by Diana Morgan, based on an adaptation by Leopold Atlas of a story by Sidney Harmon.
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
Hand in Hand, from the award winning children’s Film
In a 1962 episode of The Saint entitled The Charitable Countess, made two years after Hand in Hand Philip Needs and Loretta Parry are again teamed together, this time as Roman street urchins.
That Hand in Hand book is a real collector’s item, Neil. I’ve never seen it before. Although the film was made in the spring of 1960, under the title ‘The Star and The Cross’, Warner-Pathe couldn’t decide what to do with it. So it was left on the shelf for three years in this country, finally going out on the ABC circuit in April, 1963, as the support to the Tony Hancock comedy ‘The Punch and Judy Man’. Conversely, Columbia Pictures picked it up for distribution in the United States in 1961, so the Americans got to see it before the Brits. It’s a totally unique and wonderful film and you should get the Network DVD of it and see it for yourself. I have a large number of publicity stills for it, as well as theme music on a Decca 45 rpm single by Stanley Black, his Piano and Orchestra, that was released in April, 1963.
Thanks for this information again, David. It is not a film I knew at all but you obviously did – however the Reviews are so good. Neil
As far as I know, Loretta Parry is still with us at the age of 68, but unfortunately, Philip Needs passed away after a long illness in March, 2016, aged 65.