This film was shown on Talking Pictures this morning 1 May 2023 – I had heard of it but not seen it. The one thing that I can’t quite work out is – where was it filmed ? From all the information available it seems to have been done in Hollywood with a strong cast of English actors – many of them resident at the time in Hollywood.

However Martita Hunt had a prominent part but I cant imagine that she went over there – I may be wrong on that of course. On further investigation – I am wrong – Martita Hunt was over in the USA starring on Broadway in one of her famous stage roles ‘Thwe Mad Woman of Chaillot’ and she did 350 performance in this role

She must have fitted in her part in ‘The Fan’ during that time

In fact after ‘The Fan’ the next film she made was in England at Denham Film Studios – ‘The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men’ in the summer of 1951

The production of ‘The Madwoman of Chaillot’ was staged also at the St James Theatre in London’s West End with Martita in the role, in 1951

After this at the Phoenix Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue, she starred alongside Vivian Leigh and Laurence Olivier in ‘The Sleeping Prince’ written by Terence Rattigan – another great success for Martita.

The film rights to this play were acquired by Marilyn Monroe who came over to England to make is as ‘The Prince and the Showgirl’ with Laurence Olivier co starring with her. He was not really very good – had she had a better leading man I feel that the film would have been more successful.

I do remember when Alfred Hitchock was casting ‘Rebecca’ he wanted Ronald Colman who was not available and so had to go along with Laurence Olivier. My view is that Ronald Colman – a superb screen actor – would have been much better

Most of us film goers remember her mainly for that wonderful and memorable performance as Miss Havisham in the classic 1946 film ‘Great Expectations’ and maybe also a little later for ‘The Story of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men’ but it does seem that her greatest achievements were on stage either in the West End of London or on Broadway.

She had played Miss Havisham on stage to much acclaim and so when David Lean was casting the film, he looked no further that Martita Hunt

One Theatre critic, who had seen her on stage said of her :–

“With an arresting appearance and a dominant stage presence, she proved most effective as strong, tragic characters, her Gertrude in Hamlet being accounted by some critics the finest they had seen.”