Based on a 1950 stage play by Wynyard Browne, 1952’s The Holly and the Ivy bears all the makings of a typical Christmas movie. The British-made drama has beautiful snow falling, decorations being put up, and a family gathering for the joyous Yuletide. But it is a different kind of holiday fare. The frost in the air is not only outside. As the song of the same name says, “The holly bears a bark, as bitter as any gall.” And hidden bitterness, along with insightful looks at lost faith, grief, and the parent/child relationship are examined in director Edward George More O’Ferrall’s intergenerational study.
Ralph Richardson stars as Martin, a seemingly clueless parson for a small village in the UK, tended to by faithful daughter Jenny (Celia Johnson) since the death of his wife. His other children are Michael (a very young Denholm Elliott), currently serving in the British army, and Margaret (Margaret Leighton), a London fashion writer. Two older aunts are also on hand, the sour Bridget (Maureen Delaney) and the wise Lydia (Margaret Halstan). These ladies provide some much-needed comedy relief. Rounding out the cast are Jenny’s boyfriend David (John Gregson) and Richard (Hugh Williams), a family cousin and Margaret’s godfather.
David is an engineer who will be leaving on a five-year work commitment in South America and would like Jenny to accompany him as his wife. Jenny adamantly will not go until she knows her father will have someone to take care of him. Duty and sacrifice over love is her stance. And it’s annoying. Her father isn’t feeble and seems somewhat robust. He just needs a housekeeper (Jenny also has the strange habit of calling her father “darling”).
As they gather for dinner on Christmas Eve, Richard informs them that Margaret will not be joining them because of a bad case of the flu. Eventually the elegant Margaret does show up. Jenny talks to her about helping to take care of their father, but for Margaret it’s a hard “no.” David and Margaret decide to skip dinner and head out to the movies. They both come back drunk, having really gone to a pub. Their behavior embarrasses everyone.
Christmas Day becomes a day of hard truths for the whole family. Michael tells his father that Margaret has a drinking problem, brought on by the death of her American lover and the loss of their out-of-wedlock child. He also discloses Jenny’s thwarted marriage plans and his father’s role in them. Martin is shocked and surprised that his children have felt they couldn’t come to him. He is hurt that part of his job is to listen to his parishioners’ problems and yet his own children are afraid to confide in him. Margaret divulges her doubts about religion providing any real answers, and Martin reveals he has also felt that way sometimes. Ralph Richardson shines in these scenes, showing empathy and the depth of his character. Everything is tied up in a neat bow as they all head out to church.